Bucephala clangula

Description

The female common goldeneye is a gray duck with a brown head and a white neck. Her mostly black bill has a yellow spot on the end. The male common goldeneye has a white throat and front and a black back and tail. He has a green head with a round white patch on his cheek and his wings are black and white.

Voice

Females have a rough quack and males have a whistle that sounds like "jip JEEEEV."

Breeding

October to June

Habitat

These diving ducks stay in sheltered lakes and rivers. In the wintertime, you can also see them in saltwater bays.

Diet

Common goldeneyes eat fish, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Range

You can find common goldeneyes in Canada and Alaska during the summer and in most of the United States (including VT and NH) during the winter.

Other Useful Information

These birds like to stay in small flocks.

Similar Species

The Barrow's goldeneye is almost identical to the common goldeneye, but it does not live in VT or NH.