Common Goldeneye
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
What3Words
///trailers.ripen.grownup
The Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a medium-sized diving duck known for its striking golden-yellow eyes and the distinctive whistling sound its wings make in flight. They are found across the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia and are a common winter resident in many temperate areas.
Appearance: Adult males have a glossy, iridescent dark green head with a round white patch near the base of the bill, a black back, and white neck, breast, and sides. Females have a chocolate brown head, a mostly gray body, and a black bill that often has a yellow tip during the breeding season.
Size: They typically measure between 40-51 cm (16-20 inches) in length, with a wingspan of around 77-83 cm (30.5-32.5 inches).
Behavior: Goldeneyes are agile, fast-flying ducks that can reach speeds over 40 miles per hour. They are excellent swimmers and divers, using their feet for propulsion underwater and typically feeding in shallow waters less than 13 feet deep. They often forage in synchronized dives within their flocks
Diet: Their diet consists mainly of aquatic invertebrates, such as crustaceans, mollusks, and insect larvae. During the breeding season, insects are their predominant prey, while crustaceans are key during migration and winter. They also consume small fish, fish eggs, and some plant matter.
Common Goldeneye
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
What3Words
///trailers.ripen.grownup
The Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a medium-sized diving duck known for its striking golden-yellow eyes and the distinctive whistling sound its wings make in flight. They are found across the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia and are a common winter resident in many temperate areas.
Appearance: Adult males have a glossy, iridescent dark green head with a round white patch near the base of the bill, a black back, and white neck, breast, and sides. Females have a chocolate brown head, a mostly gray body, and a black bill that often has a yellow tip during the breeding season.
Size: They typically measure between 40-51 cm (16-20 inches) in length, with a wingspan of around 77-83 cm (30.5-32.5 inches).
Behavior: Goldeneyes are agile, fast-flying ducks that can reach speeds over 40 miles per hour. They are excellent swimmers and divers, using their feet for propulsion underwater and typically feeding in shallow waters less than 13 feet deep. They often forage in synchronized dives within their flocks
Diet: Their diet consists mainly of aquatic invertebrates, such as crustaceans, mollusks, and insect larvae. During the breeding season, insects are their predominant prey, while crustaceans are key during migration and winter. They also consume small fish, fish eggs, and some plant matter.