Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

With distinctive bright yellow eyes, the Common Goldeneye truly lives up to its name.

Habitat

Look for Common Goldeneyes in summer in the boreal forest across Canada, Alaska, and some northern states. Here they prefer clear-water lakes, rivers, and wetlands, that are surrounded by trees. Winter takes them to coastlines in Canada, as well as bays, estuaries, harbours, and large lakes and rivers, across the United States, and even Mexico. They may stay in northern areas over winter if open water is available.

You can find Common Goldeneyes at Oak Hammock Marsh!

Food

Common Goldeneyes eat many types of aquatic invertebrates, fish, and fish eggs, along with some seeds, and tubers.

Behaviour

Like some other ducks, Common Goldeneyes nest in tree cavities like natural cracks, holes made by
woodpeckers, or even boxes put up by people. Existing wood chips, or an old nest from a previous bird or squirrel, will be formed into a cup for 4 to 9 eggs. After incubating for close to 30 days, the young will leave the nest in a day or two by jumping down to the ground. Excellent divers, they are also fast fliers, with their wings making a distinct whistling sound, as they reach speeds up to 64 km (40 mi) per hour.

Conservation

Overall stable, Common Goldeneyes face threats from the loss of nesting sites, wetland drainage, and sediment loading in feeding areas, but good forestry and agricultural practices and wetland conservation can help.

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