Feb 29, 2016 - Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) ducklings on a small wetland 10 miles N of Stettler, Alberta. Look For The common goldeneye is a medium-sized, large-headed diving duck with a spectacular eponymous yellow eye visible even from a considerable distance. The curious breeding behavior of goldeneye ducks provides a clue. They protect them from danger for 5 to 6 weeks and then abandon them before they are able to fly. so sweet. Mothers brood their young at night or during inclement weather for about two weeks after hatching. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. See more ideas about goldeneye duck, waterfowl, duck. They require little direct care. Slide # GWB_20110627_4841.CR2 The three different species of these birds are the Common Goldeneye, Barrow’s Goldeneye, and the Bufflehead. The common goldeneye Bucephala clangula is a long-lived hole-nesting precocial duck with self-feeding young. Click to order my first book, a photographic guide for children entitled Milkweed Visitors. Introduction their behaviour to trade-off food acquisition for predator avoidance (Fraser & Huntingford 1986, Several days ago I saw a female Common Goldeneye with 6 ducklings out in front of our camp that were feeding. They protect them from danger for 5 to 6 weeks … Last year, he saw a Common Goldeneye with 20 ducklings in tow and thought that was extraordinary. The eyes for which Common Goldeneyes are named have’t always been > gold! They are just a few days old. On Fri, May 22, 2020 at 8:02 AM Naturally Curious with Mary Holland wrote: > Mary Holland posted: ” Common Goldeneyes, also called “Whistlers” because > of the noise their wings make in flight, are a boreal-nesting species of > duck. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Goldeneye ducklings follow their mother away from the nest a few days after hatching. Like Wood Ducks, Buffleheads and Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes are cavity nesters. The common goldeneye, like the Barrow's goldeneye, is named for its brilliant yellow iris. Goldeneyes are aggressive and territorial, and the male performs spectacular and complex courtship displays. In inland areas during the summer and fall, they feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans, and aquatic plants. Find the perfect goldeneye duckling bucephala stock photo. Aptly named for their brilliant yellow eyes, goldeneye duck species are diving ducks characterized by their big, round heads with an iridescent sheen. The wintering populations of the common goldeneyes along the Chesapeake Bay and in Maryland have been decreasing steadily since the 1980s. Aug 9, 2017 - Explore Christine Hartland's board "goldeneye" on Pinterest. Common Goldeneye Ducklings Fledging Common Goldeneyes, also called “Whistlers” because of the noise their wings make in flight, are a boreal-nesting species of duck. They jump from the nest in rapid succession, joining her in the water if the tree is on the shoreline, or on land (they nest up to 8/10ths of a mile from water) if not. The common goldeneye nest box has a 12″ by 12″ floor, 22″ inside floor to ceiling, 5″ wide by 4″ high entrance hole located 19″ above the floor (to the top of the hole) and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof. The eyes for which Common Goldeneyes are named have’t always been gold! Common Goldeneyes are diving ducks and forage mostly under water. Like buffleheads, wood ducks, and common mergansers, goldeneyes are cavity nesters, utilizing holes originally excavated by woodpeckers or other hollow places in trees. If you choose to contribute, you may go to http://www.naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com  and click on the yellow “donate” button. Female common goldeneyes nest in natural tree cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes or nest boxes and lay an average of 9 eggs. Adult males have bright yellow eyes, and females pale yellow to white. Click on image to order YODEL THE YEARLING from publisher, Click on image to order OTIS THE OWL from publisher, Click to order my newest children's book ANIMAL LEGS, Click to order my children's book ANIMAL MOUTHS, Click to order my children's book ANIMAL EYES. Click on image to order from the publisher. Image of lake, wild, baby - 108923419 It is one of the last ducks to migrate south in the fall and will winter as far north as they can find ice-free water. This is by far the more numerous of the two goldeneye species, often seen in small flocks, sometimes in large concentrations. Click on image to order ANIMAL EARS from publisher. Goldeneyes lay 7 to 10 eggs in tree cavities, and the female is the sole incubator. thanks for starting our day with such beauty! data), and contrast­ ingly patterned ‘bluish’ or ‘greenish’ feet. Some females abandon their broods soon after hatching, and the young will join another female’s brood. Request PDF | On Jan 1, 2006, Joshua H Schmidt and others published Survival of Common Goldeneye ducklings in interior Alaska | Find, read and … An online resource based on the award-winning nature guide – maryholland505@gmail.com, How to Order Photo Prints, High Resolution Digital Images, and Books, http://www.naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFtGPjPWKv0, ORDER NATURALLY CURIOUS, THE BEST-SELLING BOOK BY MARY HOLLAND. The bill is black and the legs and feet are yellowish. Their habitat includes forested areas bordering lakes, streams and wetlands. Last year, he saw a Common Goldeneye with 20 ducklings in tow and thought that was extraordinary. They nest near wetlands or other water. They are cavity nesters and have a strong homing tendency, often using the same cavity in successive years. Common goldeneye. The St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes also provide wintering habitat. The back, rump and upper tail coverts are black and the tail is grayish-brown. Common goldeneyes breed across the forested areas of Canada, Minnesota, Michigan, Alaska and the northeastern United States. Several Goldeneye ducklings make a splash in the Hyalite Reservoir by Bozeman, Montana. The female protects them and broods them at night and during bad weather for the first few weeks. Common Goldeneyes, also called “Whistlers” because of the noise their wings make in flight, are a boreal-nesting species of duck. The main differentiating factor between the two birds is the white cheek patch found on the drakes of both species. Click here to order my children's book THE BEAVERS' BUSY YEAR. Bucephala clangula. Common Goldeneye male, courtship and territorial behaviour.The Goldeneye is a sophisticated little duck with an interesting courtship behaviour. After nest exodus, which takes place within 48 hours of hatching, broods typically use one or several patches (wetlands) during the brood-rearing period. Some may move from the interior to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and south along the Mississippi and Snake rivers. There are three species, all of which researchers place in the taxonomic genus Bucephala.. Common goldeneyes use brackish estuarine and saltwater bays and deep freshwater habitats in the winter and dive to feed on a wide variety of available animal life. Goldeneye with ducklings in lake at sunrise. Habitat These birds nest in tree cavities in boreal forests although they spend their winters in protected coastal … Nests are usually located near a pond, lake or river, but may be found in woodlands up to a mile from water. In flight its wings make a soft whistling sound, giving rise to its specific name clangula, from the Latin clangere ‘to resound’ or ‘clang’! 27 June, 2011. What cute little fluff-balls! 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