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WetlandCavity nestLarge · 919 g
What the Common Goldeneye sounds like
ID tip
Adult males range from 45–51 cm (18–20 in) and weigh approximately 1,000 g (2.2 lb), while females range from 40–50 cm (16–20 in) and weigh approximately 800 g (1.8 lb). The common goldeneye has a wingspan of 77–83 cm (30.5–32.5 in). The species is named for its golden-yellow eyes. Adult males have a dark head with a greenish gloss and a circular white patch below the eye, a dark back and a white neck and belly. Adult females have a brown head and a mostly grey body. Their legs and feet are orange-yellow. The subspecies B. c. americana has a longer and thicker bill than the nominate B. c.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Common Goldeneye
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 9 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Common Goldeneye
The map shades 63 countries with regular records, and 4 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Israel, Guernsey, Morocco, Kosovo.
About the Common Goldeneye
The common goldeneye or simply goldeneye is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. Its closest relative is the similar Barrow's goldeneye. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek boukephalos, a reference to the bulbous head shape of the bufflehead. The species name is derived from the Latin clangere.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
BuffleheadBucephala albeolaThe bufflehead ranges from 32–40 cm (13–16 in) long and weighs 270–550 g (9.5–19.4 oz), with the drakes larger than the females.
Barrow's GoldeneyeBucephala islandicaAdults are similar in appearance to the common goldeneye.
Side by side: Bufflehead vs Common Goldeneye · Barrow's Goldeneye vs Common Goldeneye
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