Barrow's Goldeneye

Overview

Barrow's Goldeneye: Medium diving duck with black upperparts, contrasting white shoulder bars, white underparts. Head is large, glossy, and purple-black with golden yellow eyes and a crescent-shaped white patch behind a dark bill. White wing patches are visible in flight. Yellow legs and feet.

Range and Habitat

Barrow's Goldeneye: Breeds in Alaska, western Canada, and the northwest U.S.; also breeds in eastern Canada. Spends winters from southern Alaska, south along coast to central Calif., and locally from southern BC and northern Montana, south to southwestern Arizona, Utah, and Colorado; winters along east coast. Preferred habitats include open lakes and small ponds, inland lakes and rivers.

INTERESTING FACTS

It is rather long-lived for a duck, with one individual reaching 18 years of age. Most females do not breed until they are three years old. Once the ducklings leave the nest, the broods of different females often come together and are taken care of by a single female. The Barrow’s Goldeneye was named for Sir John Barrow, an English statesman. A group of ducks has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "flush", "paddling", "raft", and "team" of ducks.