North
American Shoveler
Barrow's Goldeneye
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Description
The male Barrow's Goldeneye has a glossy purplish head
with a crescent-shaped white patch between the eye and
bill. The dark back contrasts with the white neck,
breast and belly. The scapulars are black with a
distinctive row of rectangular white spots. The white
greater coverts are tipped with black forming a black
band between the white speculum and the white patch on
the greater coverts. The bill is black and the legs
and feet are yellowish.
The female Barrow's Goldeneye has a dark
chocolate-brown head with a narrow whitish collar. The
back and sides are dapple-gray and the chest, breast
and belly are white. The bill is fleshy-yellow with a
blackish basal area and nail. The legs and feet are
yellowish.
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Breeding
Barrow's Goldeneyes nest in wooded or open
country usually near a lake or pond surrounded by
dense vegetation, usually in a natural tree cavity,
abandoned woodpecker hole, nest box, rock cavity or
stream bank. They often nest in same area in
successive years and females lay an average of 6 to 12
eggs.
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General Comments
In flight, a Barrow's Goldeneye is difficult to
distinguish from a common Goldeneye. A puffy,
oval-shaped head, steep forehead and stubby triangular
bill help distinguish it from a resting common Goldeneye.
Barrow's Goldeneyes breed in southeastern Alaska,
northern Mackenzie, and northwestern British Columbia
south to eastern Washington, southwestern Oregon, and
eastern California; the Colorado Rockies; Quebec,
Labrador, Greenland, and Iceland.
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Burrow's Goldeneye
Burrow's Goldeneye
Burrow's Goldeneye
Burrow's Goldeneye
How
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