Overview
The Barrow’s Goldeneye is a diving duck that can sometimes be commonly mistaken for its closely related ancestor the Common Goldeneye. The Goldeneye drake and hen average a length of 17 to 19 inches with an average weight around 1 to 2 lbs. Its purplish glossy colored head and white crescent patch between the eye and the bill of the bird identify the drake. It has a white breast and belly, with a dark back coloration with several white rectangular shaped feathers that blend to look like spots. The hen has a darkish brown chocolate head with a white narrow collar. The hen has black sides and a grey or pale white chest and underbody. Both drake and hen have black bills and yellow webbed feet. While on breeding sites they tend to breed in large bodies of water with dense vegetation. They build their nest in tree cavities where they most likely previously nested in previous years. During the migration the Goldeneye will migrate mostly in large flocks on lakes, rivers, or estuaries. Their primary food source is aquatic insects, small fish, eggs from fish, and mollusks.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Bird
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Bucephala
- Species
- islandica
Habitat
Barrow’s Goldeneye breed from upwards Alaska to Washington all the way to Greenland and Iceland. These birds tend to be found wintering around the western half of the United States.
Diet
These diving birds forage underwater. They eat aquatic insects, crustaceans and pond vegetation. The main staples of the bird's diet are Gammarus oceanicus and Calliopus laeviusculus, which are both marine crustaceans.
Behavior
The Barrow's goldeneye is a relatively quiet bird that generally only makes vocalizations during the breeding season and courtship. These can include low volume squeaks, grunts and croaks. During flights, the fast movement of the bird's wings creates a low whistling sound.
Hunting
Typically hunted with a 12 ga shotgun. Shot size #2-4 is sufficient. Effectively hunted with decoys and calling. Dogs are used for bird retrieval. Steel shot is required for waterfowl in the United States.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.