Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sbern/ / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 919 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Bucephala
- Species clangula
Where it lives
Subarctic from Scotland and Scandinavia to Sakhalin and Kamchatka (southeastern Russia), in south through northern Kazakhstan, northern Mongolia and Heilongjiang (northeastern China); western Alaskan mainland to Labrador and New Brunswick, in south through northern tier of contiguous USA
Quick facts
- Weight
- 919 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Goldeneye hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Common Goldeneye is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a species of ducks, geese, swans in the family Anatidae, order Anseriformes. It is found in North America, Europe & Northern Asia — subarctic from Scotland and Scandinavia to Sakhalin and Kamchatka (se Russia), in s through n Kazakhstan, n Mongolia and Heilongjiang (ne China); w Alaskan mainland to Labrador and New Brunswick, in s through n tier of contiguous USA.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Goldeneye?
The Common Goldeneye is a very large bird that weighs around 919 g.
Where does the Common Goldeneye live?
The Common Goldeneye is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL subarctic from Scotland and Scandinavia to Sakhalin and Kamchatka (se Russia), in s through n Kazakhstan, n Mongolia and Heilongjiang (ne China); w Alaskan mainland to Labrador and New Brunswick, in s through n tier of contiguous USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Goldeneye belong to?
The Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Common Goldeneye eat?
The Common Goldeneye hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Common Goldeneye migrate?
The Common Goldeneye is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Common Goldeneye endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Goldeneye make?
1 real field recording of the Common Goldeneye — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Goldeneye's range?
The Common Goldeneye has a mapped global range of about 22.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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