Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) lives in northern boreal across North America, Eurasia. It feeds on insects and crustaceans. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Common Goldeneye
- The common goldeneye is a medium-sized sea duck that defends its area with notable aggression. Both males and females will chase intruders to protect feeding and nesting sites. During the breeding season they perform elaborate courtship displays that involve head bobbing and wing flicks. Their territorial nature helps secure the resources needed for successful reproduction.
- Goldeneyes choose natural cavities in large trees for their nests, frequently reusing the same hole each year. Many of these holes are created by large woodpeckers such as pileated or black woodpeckers, while others result from broken limbs. The birds will also accept artificial nest boxes when available, showing flexibility in nesting sites. This habit ensures a protected environment for their eggs and ducklings.
- Goldeneyes are diving birds that hunt beneath the water's surface, and their year-round diet is about one-third crustaceans, just over a quarter aquatic insects and roughly one-tenth molluscs. While they are nesting, insects become the dominant food, whereas during migration and winter crustaceans make up the bulk of their intake. Occasionally they also eat fish eggs and aquatic plants where these are abundant.
- In the 1970s about 188,300 common goldeneyes were shot each year across North America. That harvest represented just under 4 % of all waterfowl taken in Canada and less than 1 % of the U.S. At the same time both their breeding grounds in boreal forests and their wintering waters were being lost to land clearance and polluted runoff.
- Goldeneye ducklings hatch and remain in the nest for only about one day, typically 24 to 36 hours, before they are pushed out. After fledging they stay close to the water while their wings develop, and they achieve full flight capability between 55 and 65 days of age. This rapid growth allows them to join wintering flocks soon after leaving the nest, reducing the period they are vulnerable to predators such as hawks and weasels.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNorth America, Eurasia
HabitatNorthern boreal
DietInsects and crustaceans
About the Common Goldeneye
As the Common Goldeneye glides effortlessly across the glassy surface of a forest lake, its sleek, black-and-white feathers glisten like polished onyx, while its namesake golden eye shines like a beacon, illuminating the mysterious depths of its character. With each swift, powerful stroke of its wings, it propels itself through the water with a fluid elegance, leaving behind a trail of rippling waves that disturb the otherwise tranquil atmosphere. In the fleeting moments when it breaks the surface, its iridescent feathers seem to shimmer and dance in the sunlight, a testament to the captivating beauty of this resilient and enigmatic bird.
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