Barrow's Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) is a medium-sized diving duck of the northern hemisphere, primarily found in western North America, with small, isolated populations in eastern Canada and Iceland. Closely related to the Common Goldeneye, this species is named after Sir John Barrow, a 19th-century British Secretary of the Admiralty and promoter of Arctic exploration. While they share a similar name and shape with their sister species, Barrow's Goldeneyes possess distinct plumages and behavioral traits that set them apart, including a preference for specific, often fishless breeding lakes and exceptional site fidelity to nesting cavities.

Differentiating Barrow's Goldeneye from the Common Goldeneye requires attention to subtle silhouettes and distinct plumage patterns.

Adult Males

• Head: Glossy, dark purplish-blue head (which can appear black in poor light), compared to the green sheen of the Common Goldeneye.
• Facial Patch: A prominent, vertical white crescent or teardrop-shaped patch between the bill and the bright yellow eye.
• Forehead: A steep, almost vertical forehead profile, resulting in a boxier head shape.
• Flanks and Back: Highly dark overall in contrast to the Common Goldeneye. The back is black, flowing down to the waterline with a distinctive row of square white spots on the scapulars, leaving only a small stripe of clean white on the sides.

Adult Females

• Head: Rich oval-shaped chocolate-brown head.
• Bill: During the spring breeding season, the bill of the female Barrow's Goldeneye becomes almost entirely bright yellow or orange-yellow. Common Goldeneye females typically only have a yellow tip.
• Profile: Features the same steep, near-vertical forehead as the male, creating a abrupt forehead-to-bill angle.

In Flight

Both sexes show less white on their upperwings in flight compared to Common Goldeneyes. Their wings produce a distinct whistling sound, though it is slightly quieter and higher pitched than that of their close relative.

Barrow's Goldeneyes have a highly localized distribution. The vast majority of the world's population breeds in the montane and subalpine regions of western North America, ranging from Alaska and the Yukon down through British Columbia to the Rocky Mountains.

Breeding Grounds

During the spring and summer, they select freshwater lakes and ponds situated close to forested areas. They have a strong preference for high-elevation, alkaline, or fishless lakes where aquatic invertebrate populations are dense and competition is low.

Wintering Grounds and Migration

In winter, they migrate short distances to rocky marine coastlines, protected bays, harbors, and ice-free rivers. Unlike Common Goldeneyes which readily venture onto open coastal waters, Barrow's Goldeneyes tend to stay closer to shorelines and rocky intertidal zones.

Feeding and Diet

Barrow's Goldeneyes are exceptional divers, propelled underwater by their webbed feet. On freshwater breeding lakes, they feed almost exclusively on aquatic insects (such as dragonflies, damselflies, and water boatmen) and insect larvae. In marine wintering environments, their diet shifts heavily toward blue mussels, small crabs, snails, and marine worms. They typically forage in shallow waters less than 4 meters (13 feet) deep, swallowing prey whole.

Vocalizations

These ducks are generally quiet, but males during courtship displays make a series of low grunts, clicks, and a soft, wheezy whistle. Females emit a harsh, low-pitched garr sound when alarmed or during nesting defense.

Nesting & Breeding

Barrow's Goldeneyes are obligate cavity nesters, relying on natural hollows in large trees, abandoned cavities made by Pileated Woodpeckers or Northern Flickers, and readily accepting artificial duck nest boxes. Highly territorial, females will aggressively defend their breeding ponds. They show extreme site fidelity, frequently returning to the exact same nesting cavity year after year. Like many ducks, they exhibit brood parasitism, occasionally laying eggs in the nests of other goldeneyes, Buffleheads, or Hooded Mergansers.