General

Barrow's Goldeneye: Medium-sized diving duck with black upperparts, contrasting white shoulder bars, and white underparts. Head is large, glossy, and purple-black with golden yellow eyes and a crescent-shaped white patch behind a usually dark bill. White wing patches are visible in flight. Female has dark brown hood, white collar, dark gray body, white wing patches, and usually yellow-orange bill. Juvenile resembles female but has darker bill; juvenile male has a faint white crescent on face.

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; also winters along East Coast. Preferred habitats include open lakes and small ponds, inland lakes and rivers.

Breeding and Nesting

Barrow's Goldeneye: Five to fifteen pale olive or blue green eggs are laid in a nest in a tree or rock cavity up to 50 feet above the ground; may nest on the ground under a bush. Nest is built by the female and lined with down and grass. Incubation ranges from 28 to 34 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Barrow's Goldeneye: In inland areas during summer and fall, feeds on aquatic insects, crustaceans, and aquatic plants. Along coastal wintering grounds, feeds largely on crustaceans, mollusks, small fish, and some plant material; forages by diving from the surface.

Vocalization

Barrow's Goldeneye: Makes a soft "ka-kaa" during courtship.

Similar Species

Barrow's Goldeneye: Male Common Goldeneye has round (not crescent) spot between eye and bill and glossy green head.