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  • Goldeneye

Goldeneye

Goldeneye (male)
Goldeneye (male)
Goldeneye (female)
Goldeneye (female)
  • Scientific name: Bucephala clangula
  • Bird family: Ducks, geese and swans
  • UK conservation status: Red
  • Protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Goldeneye call audio

Your browser does not support this audio feature.

Patrik Aberg, Xeno-canto

Key information

The goldeneye is a medium sized diving duck. Males look black and white with a greenish black head and a circular white patch in front of the yellow eye. Females are smaller, and are mottled grey with a chocolate brown head. In flight, birds show a large area of white on the inner wing. First nested in Scotland in 1970, and since then birds have been attracted to nest in specially designed boxes put up on trees close to water. In winter, birds from Northern Europe visit the UK.

What they eat:

Mussels, insect larvae, small fish and plants

Measurements:

Length:
42-50 cm
Wingspan:
65-80cm
Weight:
650-1200g

Population:

UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.
UK breeding:
200 pairs
UK wintering:
27,000 birds

Identifying features:

This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.

Goldeneye (male)

Male goldeneye
Feather colour: Black Green White
Leg colour: Orange
Beak: Black Long Duck-like Chunky
Natural habitats: Marine and intertidal Wetland

Goldeneye (female)

Female goldeneye
Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Grey White
Leg colour: Orange
Beak: Black Orange Long Duck-like Chunky
Natural habitats: Marine and intertidal Wetland

Similar birds:

Goosander male
Goosander
Male smew
Smew

Where and when to see them

In summer goldeneye are mainly in the Highlands of Scotland. They are best looked for in winter on lakes, large rivers and sheltered coasts, particularly in north and west Britain.

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  • Resident
  • Passage
  • Summer
  • Winter
Goldeneye distribution map

Goldeneyes can be seen in summer in the Highlands of Scotland for breeding birds; wintering birds arrive from August to December and return north in February and March.

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RSPB reserves

  • RSPB Loch Garten, Abernethy
  • RSPB Langford Lowfields

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