Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula

Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula, Juvenile. Bird photographed in the greater Stockholm area, June 2022. Photograph and identification courtesy of Marina Sutormina, Stockholm, Sweden.

Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula, Female. Bird photographed in the greater Stockholm area, June 2022. Photograph and identification courtesy of Marina Sutormina, Stockholm, Sweden.

Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula, Males. Birds photographed in the greater Stockholm area, June 2022. Photographs and identifications courtesy of Marina Sutormina, Stockholm, Sweden.

Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula, Male and Female. Bird photographed in the greater Stockholm area, June 2022. Photograph and identification courtesy of Marina Sutormina, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background and Identification

The Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula, is a member of the Anatidae Family of Ducks, Geese and Waterfowl. This duck is known for its diving behavior and its distinctive golden-yellow eyes. Goldeneyes also have large heads for their body size and can be found on large rivers and lakes in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts in the winter. In the early 1900s, hunters began calling the Common Goldeneye the “whistler” for the distinctive whistling sound of its wings while flying. The noise is even more noticeable in cold weather. Like Wood Ducks, Common Goldeneyes readily use nest boxes as a stand-in for tree cavities, and some return to the same box year after year. To successfully see a breeding pair in a nesting box, people are encouraged to set up nest boxes well before the breeding season begins and add a guard to the box to protect it from predators. In Mexico, the Common Goldeneye is known as Porrón Osculado.

The Common Goldeneye is a medium-sized duck with a chunky appearance and round body. This species is strongly sexually dimorphic, males and females are different sizes and colors. Males are larger than females, the average mass for males is 1.00 kg (2 lbs 2 0z) and the average mass for females is 800 g (1 lb 12 oz). Males average 45 cm (18 inches) to 51 cm (20 inches) in length and females average 40 cm (16 inches) to 50 cm (20 inches). The breeding male has a black head and upper neck. A large oval-shaped white spot between the bill and eyes and the lower neck, upper mantle, breast-sides, and underparts are white. Breeding females have chocolate brown heads, salty grey backs, wings, and tails. The breast, flanks, and belly are white. Both sexes have bright amber-colored irises, hence the name “Goldeneye”. Juveniles are difficult to distinguish from females, with very similar features.

Habitat and Geographical Range

The Common Goldeneye is typically found in forests, where they nest in tree cavities near freshwater lakes and rivers. They are also found near estuaries where they can dive for their prey. They breed on freshwater lakes, pools, and rivers. In the winter, they frequent coastal lagoons, estuaries, inland lakes, and ice-free rivers.

This species is migratory, spending the breeding season in the boreal forests of Canada, Alaska, and parts of northern Europe and Asia. In the winter, they migrate south to more coastal waters. Wintering areas include the southern United States, Europe, and Asia. In the breeding season, Goldeneyes are most commonly found in the Great Lakes area of the northern United States.

Common Misidentifications

The Common Goldeneye can be confused with other medium-sized ducks, such as the Barrow’s Goldeneye, which has a more crescent-shaped white facial patch and a steeper forehead. Female Common Goldeneyes may also be mistaken for other brown-headed ducks, like the female Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola. The Common Goldeneye is generally larger and has a more prominent white wing patch.

Conservation Perspective

From a conservation perspective the Common Goldeneye is currently considered to be of  Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. There is low concern that this species is challenged to successfully multiply and thrive in its geographical range. Populations are stable, although they can be affected by habitat loss and the decline of breeding boxes put out by humans. Conservation efforts that focus on preserving boreal forests and providing artificial nesting boxes have been beneficial in maintaining their population.