Common goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Group: Waterfowl
Size class: Small (under 10 kg)
Family: Anatidae

Range

North America
Europe

Habitat

Wetland
Coast

Range

Countries it is found in

63 countries

Åland Islands
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Canada
China
Croatia
Cuba
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary

Range from:Wikipedia country bird lists, GBIF occurrence records — read 2026-08-05

Chapter 01

Overview

The common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus Bucephala, its closest relative the similar Barrow's goldeneye. The genus name comes from Ancient Greek boukephalos, 'bull-headed', after the bulbous head shape of the bufflehead; the species name from Latin clangere, 'to resound'. Linnaeus described it in 1758 as Anas clangula, giving Europe as the type locality and restricting that to Sweden in 1761.

Chapter 02

Identification

Drakes are 45–51 cm long and weigh about 1,000 g; hens are 40–50 cm and about 800 g. The wingspan is 77–83 cm. The bird is named for its golden-yellow eyes. The adult drake has a dark head with a greenish gloss and a circular white patch below the eye, a dark back, and a white neck and belly — the white cheek spot being the mark that carries at distance.

Chapter 03

Behaviour

Goldeneyes nest in tree cavities, choosing natural hollows made by broken limbs and holes cut by large woodpeckers — specifically pileated or black woodpeckers. Eggs average 42.6–44.0 mm across and 58.1–60.6 mm long, weighing 61.2–66.6 g. Incubation runs 28 to 32 days, and the female does all of it; she is abandoned by the drake.

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