goldeneye duck

1. Bird Name
Commonly known as the Goldeneye Duck, its scientific name is Bucephala clangula.

2. Appearance
The Goldeneye Duck is a medium-sized, robust species distinguished by its striking golden yellow eye, from which it gets its name. Male Goldeneyes have glossy green-black heads with a circular white patch between the eye and the light gray bill. Their bodies are white with black back and rump. Females, on the other hand, have brown heads with the same golden eye, grayish bodies, and a smaller white neck patch. The young ones resemble the females but with darker bodies.

3. Size
An adult Goldeneye Duck’s average length falls between 45–52 centimeters or 18–20 inches. They possess a wingspan of approximately 75–85 centimeters or 30–33 inches. Typically, they weigh somewhere around 500–1500 grams, with males a little weightier than the females.

4. Habitat & Distribution
Goldeneye Ducks inhabit the northern parts of North America, Scandinavia, and Russia. Their preferred habitats include freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers, specifically in boreal forests during breeding season. During winters, they migrate to the marine coastlines and large inland waters.

5. Interesting Facts
Goldeneyes showcase an interesting courtship behavior where males would stretch their necks upwards, releasing a peculiar ‘zing’ sound, tilting their heads backward until it touches their rumps, and then spring up by flexing their tails and place their bills into the water which creates a big splash. An intriguing fact about Goldeneyes is that they have an exceptional ability to alter ecosystems by expanding holes of other waterfowl for nesting.

6. Diet
Goldeneye Ducks are carnivorous in nature. They mainly subsist on aquatic invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. They don’t stop at that; they are also known to predate small fishes, amphibians, and occasionally, plant materials.

7. Behaviour & Sounds
Goldeneye Ducks are expert divers, often staying submerged for up to half a minute and capable of diving up to 20 feet deep. Mating involves a complex display of movements and noises, including head-throws, bows, and calls. The male’s call is a double note, described as a high-pitched ‘pzeek-krick.’

8. Conservation Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Goldeneye Duck as being of ‘Least Concern,’ signaling a stable population trend.

9. Lifespan
Goldeneye Ducks have a life expectancy of approximately 16–22 years in the wild, although greater lifespans have been recorded in captive specimens.

10. Additional Notes
Goldeneyes are also known as ‘whistlers’ for the distinctive whistling sound of their wings during flight. In Finnish, it’s called ‘telkkä’, in French, it’s ‘Garrot à oeil d’or’. Due to their nesting habits in tree cavities, Goldeneyes have benefitted from humans who have installed nest boxes for wood ducks or mergansers. They play an important ecological role in controlling pests by consuming large quantities of aquatic invertebrates.