Common Goldeneye

The wings make a quick series of whistles as the duck lifts off and gathers speed. This is a non-vocal flight sound, not the male’s display call.

Long-distance migrant: breeds across northern North America and Eurasia, winters in temperate coastal and inland waters farther south.

Nesting on clear, fish-bearing lakes and slow rivers in the boreal forest; during migration and winter they use larger lakes, rivers, estuaries, and protected coastal bays.

Courtship begins on late wintering grounds; nests in tree cavities or nest boxes from April–June; broods leave the cavity within 24 hours of hatching. Fall migration peaks October–November; winter flocks form on ice-free waters.

The Common Goldeneye is a medium-sized diving duck named for its brilliant yellow eyes. Males sport crisp black-and-white plumage with a glossy green-black head and a distinctive round white cheek spot. Females are more subdued, with chocolate-brown heads, gray bodies, and orange-tipped bills. Agile underwater hunters, they dive repeatedly to capture aquatic prey, often in small, loose flocks.