Bird of the Day

Common Goldeneyes are mid-sized diving ducks that are closely related to Buffleheads, with whom they’re known to interbreed. They’re one of the last ducks to migrate south from the taiga rivers and lakes in Canada where they nest in tree cavities. In winter they’re found all across the continental US wherever they can find open water to dive for crustaceans. Males are black-headed with a green iridescent luster, bright yellow eyes, and a large white oval behind the bill and below the eye. The rest of their medium large bodies mostly black and white. Females and juveniles have chocolate colored heads, similar bright eyes, but no white facial patch and their wings, backs, and tails are dark grey. If you come across a small group of them diving, keep an eye out for the much rarer Barrow’s Goldeneye, which is very similar, but the face patch on the males is crescent shaped, and the head has a purple gloss instead of green. There’s been a male Barrow’s hanging out with some Commons on the north side of Great Boar’s Head in Hampton, NH, but each time I’ve been to see him, he’s been too far away to photograph.