Birds · Anseriformes · Anatidae

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It nests in tree holes, often abandoned woodpecker holes, and its newly hatched ducklings have to leap from a considerable height to the ground to follow their mother to the water.

Weight

800 g – 1 kg

Size

40 cm – 51 cm

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestFreshwaterCarnivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Temperate forest Freshwater

28countries 75parks42same family

Fun facts

Its ducklings leap from the tree hole where they hatch straight to the ground, unhurt.
Egg dumping between females of the same species is extremely common.
It feeds by diving for 20 to 60 seconds, several metres down.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Boreal lakes and rivers surrounded by forest while breeding, wintering on coastal waters and large lakes of the northern hemisphere
Birth weight: 38.1 grams
Size at birth: Precocial, able to jump from the tree hollow where it hatches straight to the ground soon afterwards, unhurt
Sexual maturity: 2-3.2 years
Gestation / incubation: 28-32 days
Litter / clutch size: 6 to 12 eggs per clutch

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; Bilderreich; A-Z Animals; Wikipedia (Common goldeneye); BioKIDS; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Where to find it

See its range on the interactive map

Best time: From November to March on open water in Europe and North America; in late winter the males perform a spectacular display, throwing their heads back.