Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
Also known as: Goldeneye
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
Invertebrate
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
919 g
About This Species
A striking black-and-white diving duck with a rounded golden eye and an iridescent green-black head, often located by the whistling sound of its wings in flight. It dives for aquatic invertebrates and plant matter on lakes, rivers and coastal waters, and males perform an elaborate head-throwing display during courtship. Winter is the best season to see large numbers on open water in temperate regions, with breeding birds using tree cavities near northern lakes in summer.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Watch diving ducks from shore or a stationary boat at a distance that does not cause repeated diving or flight, since flushing wintering waterfowl wastes energy reserves needed to survive cold conditions.
- Migratory waterfowl are protected under laws such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in North America and equivalent wild bird legislation in Europe, though specific rules and seasons differ by country.
- Nest boxes and tree cavities used for breeding should not be disturbed, since this species depends on a limited supply of suitable cavities.
LCAvesAnseriformesAnatidae
Seasonal Activity
5,451,964 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
Traits
- Diet
- Invertebrate
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 919 g
Photo
(c) Виктор, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Виктор
CC-BY-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.