Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Bucephala ("bull headed") islandica ("of Iceland")

Adult in eclipse plumage Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) at Saskatoon Lake, Alberta, Canada - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 590-970g  /  Length: 43-49cm  /  Wingspan: 70-73cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A species with a very perculiar range - it breeds in the Rockies up into Alaska, but also has a disjunct population in the Gulf of St Lawrence in Quebec, and, perhaps even more oddly, a relict population in Iceland in Europe.  In most plumages relatively simple to separate from the Common Goldeneye - in breeding males the face patch is a wedge rather than round, and in the breeding females the beak becomes orange, however, in eclipse it can become a bit subtler and features such as black wingbars and the head shape become required.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Bucephala
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Breeds across much of Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

OTHER NAMES: Goldeneye, Whistler, Cobhead, American Goldeneye

Latin Etymology: Bucephala ("bull headed") clangula ("to resound")

Adult male Common Goldeneye (subspecies B. c. clangula) at Pitsford Reservoir, Northant - February 2022

Featured Subspecies: Bucephala clangula clangula
Weight: 500-1400g  /  Length: 40-52cm  /  Wingspan: 77-83cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Although some birds do breed in Scotland, this is primarily a Winter migrant to most of Britain. The male is a relatively striking bird with the large white spot between it's beak and eye being the easiest way to identify it. Less prominent is the female, which might require slightly more effort to identify as it lacks high contrast plumage, but has a fairly distinct squashed face for a duck.  I found them to be fairly abundant in Hokkaido in particular in Japan, present on the rivers in the Kushiro.

Related Species
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Bucephala
Subspecies: B. c. clangula, B. c. americana

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding species (200 pairs) and widespread Winter visitor (27,000 birds)

 - Birds seen in Winter at Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir and Ditchford Gravel Pits.

JAPAN - Japanese - ホオジロガモ  /  Hō-jiro-gamo ("White-cheeked Duck")

Locally common Winter migrant.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Common on Hokkaido Coast seen at each of Akkeshi and Kushiro.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .