Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

51 cm (20") Common and widespread; more common in East. Forested lakes, rivers, estuaries, bays. Small diving duck.

Male: dark head may show glossy green; short dark bill; large round white spot in front of and below its bright yellow eye; white breast and sides; black back. In flight, very rapid with wings that whistle; white spot on dark head; white areas on back and large white speculum area.

Female: dark brown head has a sloping forehead to stubby bill; bright yellow eye; all dark bill or may have a small area of yellow near tip only; white neck collar; gray breast, back and sides. In flight, very rapid with wings that whistle; large white speculum area.

Song: "pee-ik", quacks.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Bill Bouton

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: David-Mitchell

Credit: Greg Schneider

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Common Goldeneye Courting

Credit: slpatt

Common Goldeneye pair

Credit: Gary Shugart

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Common Goldeneye (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 6

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:755-common-goldeneye-female:1:1 Source: 755 Common Goldeneye (Female), row 1

Common Goldeneye (Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 6

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:754-common-goldeneye-male:1:1 Source: 754 Common Goldeneye (Male), row 1

Rule 2 15 criteria confidence 9

What was the SHAPE of the white marking between the EYE and BILL ?: Round
In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:758-male-goldeneyes-determination:1:1 Source: 758 Male Goldeneyes Determination, row 1