Adventures Outdoors'
IN WISCONSIN
GOLDENEYE
(Bucephala clangula)
ABOUT THEM
The Goldeneyes wing beats can be heard by their hi pitched whistling noise which is why some people call them the "Whistler". The drake puts on a display for the Hen by throwing his head forward and back while making a loud raspy noise. They are cavity nesters like Wood Ducks nesting in trees, woodpecker nests and Wood Duck houses. They will almost always try to use the same nest year after year. They can do this because of their strong homing instincts. They will sometimes nest as far away from water as a mile. The Hen will lay on the average of 9 eggs. Goldeneyes are often seen wintering along the great lakes. Exact numbers of these birds are hard to find because of the density of the areas they breed, like the boreal forests of Canada. But an estimate of this diver is around 1 million birds.
Description
The Drake has a dark, greenish-black head, and a large white spot forward of his eye, almost entirely white with a black-white back. The Hen has a brown head, gray-white neck and white belly. Both sexes have the golden eye, white wing patches, and orange or yellow feet with dark webs.
SIZE
Length = 16-20"
Weight = M 2.3lbs
F 1.7lbs