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Common Goldeneye

Status Common transient, fairly common in winter, uncommon and local in summer. Breeds. By late October a heavy influx of birds from northern breeding grounds augments our sparse summer population. Estimates of 100-500 birds are regular on Christmas Bird Counts along the Atlantic coast. Large numbers remain throughout the winter, when they favour broad shallow bays and inlets, particularly along the Southwestern Shore where food is more readily available. At that season it is not unusual to find them in small numbers also along the lower reaches of swift-flowing streams that remain open. Major spring movements are evident in March and early April. Only on Cape Breton Island do some numbers remain to breed.

Description Length: 45-66 cm. Adult male: Head dark green with circular white patch between eye and bill; neck, breast, much of wing coverts, wing patch and belly white; rest of plumage black; bill dark gray; eye golden yellow; legs and feet orange-yellow. Adult female: Head brown; foreneck white, tinged with gray; breast, back and sides ashy gray; wing coverts tipped with white; wing patch and belly white.

Breeding Nest: In a hollow tree or stump, or manmade box, sometimes at great heights, and usually near water in wooded areas. Eggs: 6-12 or more; pale bluish green, unlike those of any other duck except Barrow's Goldeneye. During 1961-67 the Maritime Nest Records Scheme listed 37 breeding records: 31 of broods of varying sizes and ages, and 6 of nests with eggs located in manmade nest-boxes. Godfrey (1958) reports having seen 11 broods from 15 June to 3 August 1954. All of the above breeding records were on Cape Breton Island; although goldeneyes have not been found breeding on the mainland, they may do so.

Range Breeds from Alaska, across the wooded parts of northern Canada to Newfoundland, and south to northern Washington, northern North Dakota, northern New York State and Maine. Winters from the southern limits of its breeding range to the Gulf States. Occurs also in the Old World.

Remarks The goldeneye has a low rating as a table bird, particularly when shot about fresh water in winter, no doubt the result of the food they take at that season. One shot by Cyril Coldwell in winter on the Gaspereau River had recently devoured nine eels, one about 20 cm long.

The name "whistler," by which it is known to many duck-hunters, is appropriate because its fast-moving wings produce a vibrant, sweet, whistling note.

Goldeneye ducklings, like young Wood Ducks, reach the ground or water by jumping from their nests high up in hollow trees. They are about two days old before they attempt this feat. It appears that the location of the nest is determined by the availability of a suitable cavity. It may be a metre from the ground or water, or high up. Brewster (1909a) examined a nest with a rough-edged entrance so narrow that it would barely admit his flattened hand, and Bent (1925) says the bird will desert its nest if the eggs are handled by humans.