Goldeneye  (Bucephala clangula)

Included in the Birds of Conservation Concern Amber List (medium conservation concern) (3). Receives general protection in the UK under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and listed under Annex II of the EC Birds Directive (4).

The goldeneye is a well-known attractive diving duck (5). It has a compact shape, with a large rounded head. The upper part of the forewing is white and the undersides of the wings are dark (2). In breeding plumage, the adult male (drake) has a glossy green sheen to the black head, obvious yellow eyes, a white patch in front of the eye and white sides and breast (3). Females have a brown head, a white collar, pale yellow eyes, and the breast and sides are greyish in colour (2). Juveniles are similar in appearance to females but the head is a more greyish brown (2). The goldeneye is not a very vocal duck; a quiet ‘krrr’ is occasionally produced (6) and when displaying, males emit a loud ‘zee-zee’ call (3). In flight the wings produce a whistling or rattling sound (6).

In Britain, this duck breeds in the Highlands of Scotland in relatively small numbers. Birds from Scandinavia and western Russia overwinter throughout much of Britain (5), arriving from August and departing in February and March (3). There are two subspecies; the form that occurs in Eurasia (Bucephala clangula clangula) and a North American subspecies (Bucephala clangula americana). The Eurasian subspecies has a wide breeding distribution extending through northern Eurasia (4).

Breeding takes place near lakes and rivers where there are plenty of old trees that provide nesting holes. Although often thought of as a sea-duck, it is found inland (5). In winter, this duck can be found on lakes, lochs, reservoirs, gravel pits, rivers, estuaries and bays (3) (5).

Goldeneyes feed during the day on a wide range of invertebrates such as small bivalve molluscs and crabs (5). They are able to dive to depths of 4 meters and can stay submerged for over 30 seconds (7).

At the start of the breeding season in late winter and early spring, males can be seen displaying. They throw their heads back over their body whilst producing a growling noise. Several males gather to perform in this way and one or more females will watch. The nest is typically built 10-15 m off the ground in a tree hole or in a specially built nesting box (7). The female lays between 8 and 11 eggs, which are incubated for up to 30 days. The young will have fledged after a further 57 to 66 days (3).

This species is not threatened at present.

Building nest boxes for goldeneyes throughout Europe has resulted in an increase in numbers of this duck. Furthermore, this factor has aided the colonisation of the Scottish breeding population (4). 26% of the overwintering population in Britain occurs in Special Protection Areas (SPAs) (4).

For more on British birds see the RSPB website:
http://www.rspb.org.uk

• Subspecies: a population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.

1. National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (January2004): http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn
2. Mullarney, K., Svensson, L., Zetterström, D. & Grant, P.J. (1999) Collins Bird Guide. HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London.
3. RSPB A-Z of Birds: Goldeneye (February 2004): http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/goldeneye/index.asp
4. JNCC Goldeneye (non-breeding)- SPA suite (February 2004): http://www.jncc.gov.uk/UKSPA?Species/accounts/A6-41.pdf
5. Lack. P. (1986) The Atlas of wintering birds in Britain and Ireland. T & A D Poyser Ltd, London.
6. Greenoak, F (1979) All the birds of the air. Book Club Associates, London.
7. Holden, P. & Sharrock, J.T.R. (2002) The RSPB Guide to British Birds. Pan Macmillan, London.