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Common Goldeneye
(Bucephala clangula)
: Race "clangula":
"Eurasian Goldeneye"; race "americana": "American Goldeneye"
 German name(s): "Schellente"
Size: 45-52 cm (male); 40-50 cm (female)
wing span 62-77 cm (both sexes combined)
Weight: 890-1400 g (male); 500-1180 g (female)
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Common Goldeneyes are medium-sized dabbling ducks.
Their plumage
is dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
are different.
In addition, males
have different plumage
during the
breeding season and in eclipse.
The back is black, except two white stripes along the sides and
the wings are also black, with large white wing panels and dark-grey
flight feathers.
breeding
male Common Goldeneyes have a glossy greenish-black head (purple
depending on the direction of infalling light), with a white patch
on the lores. The rest of the front, the flanks and the neck are white.
In eclipse the head turns dark grey-brown and the front and sides
are vermiculated light- to mid-grey. In transitional stages some
males may have the white loral patches, while others don't.
Females
have cryptic
plumage that
is similar to males in eclipse.
The major differences are that
females
have a white collar, that the cap on their head is more pointed
and that they have yellowish-grey patches near the tip of
their bill.
Apart from the
females tip, both sexes have a triangular-shaped, dark-grey bill.
The irises of breeding
males are golden, those of females are more greyish-yellow. The legs
and feet of both sexes are greyish-orange.
Juveniles resemble
females,
but without the white collar.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Common
Goldeneye at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Common Goldeneye is available
HERE
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Common Goldeneyes are a migratory species that is found on
all northern continents and on Iceland.
Nominate race
"clangula"
populates large parts of Europe and Asia, while race "americana"
occurs in North America.
The breeding ground are in taiga and boreal forest in the northern
parts of the continents, while the birds winter in more temperate
regions.
In Europe Common Goldeneyes are found as permanent residents in
only a few, relatively small regions, most prominently in northern
Germany, in the border region to Denmark, the northern half of
Poland and a near-coastal area stretching across the Baltic
states. Otherwise the only other permanent population is found
along the Dnjepr river/lake system in Ukraine.
They extend their breeding range into most of Scandinavia
and north-eastern Europe (north-western Russia), up to about
the polar circle.
Their wintering grounds are along the southern Scandinavian
and central European North Sea and Atlantic coastline, much
of the British Isles and Ireland and also in inland central
Europe, from the Bretagne eastward to the Elbe and Oder rivers
in Germany. Otherwise they are found along the major river
systems of Europe, such as the Danube and the lower Po, but
also along the coastline of the Bosporus and all around the
Black Sea.
Being a tree hollow-nesting species, Common Goldeneyes breed in
taiga and boreal forest.
Outside the breeding season, in their winter quarters, they have
a preference for protected wetlands, often in coastal areas or
along river/lake systems.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
D. Wilczynska reports spotting Common Goldeneyes, nominate race
"clangula",
in wetlands along the river Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in
April 2017.
Common Goldeneyes, nominate race
"clangula",
were found again by D. Wilczynska on Lake Wigry, Mazurias, Poland,
in August 2017.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has been kindly contributed by D. Wilczynska.
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Photos |
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Race "clangula"
This race is also called the "Eurasian Goldeneye".
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
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Lateral view of a male Common Goldeneye with two females on the right
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a male Common Goldeneye
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Three male Common Goldeneyes, with a female, second from right
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
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FEMALE |
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Lateral view of a female Common Goldeneye flapping its wings
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Two female Common Goldeneyes
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
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PAIR |
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Lateral view of a male Common Goldeneye in breeding
plumage
right, with a female on the left
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Group of Common Goldeneyes resting in shallow water
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Small flock of Common Goldeneyes in flight (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Lateral view of a juvenile Goldeneye taking a bath
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Wigry, Mazurias, Poland, August 2017]
The absence of either a yellow tip of the bill, white cheek patch or
collar suggests that these two birds are immature Goldeneyes
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Lake Wigry, Mazurias, Poland, August 2017]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
