Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
A medium sized, migratory duck which can be seen around Montreal during the winter months in open water. Common Goldeneye dive for food. They build their nest in tree cavities.
Common Names
| 🇨🇦 | Common Goldeneye |
| 🇫🇷 | Garrot à œil d'or |
| 🇩🇪 | Schellente |
| 🇲🇽 | Porrón osculado |
Taxonomy
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
Characteristics
| Length | 40-51cm |
| Weight | 0.8-1.0kg |
| Wingspan | 77-83cm |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 eggs |
| Incubation | 27-33 days |
| Fledging | 56-65 days |
| Sexual Maturity | 2-3 years |
Explore More
📖 Wikipedia Page: For more information about this species.
Identification and Whereabouts
I look at the color pattern of male, greenish black head with a white spot near the beak, and female, brown head, and the characteristic yellow ring around the eye to identify this bird.
I see them in small flocks in Rapids Park Lachine in the river during winter months only.
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parc de la Frayère | x | - | - | x |
| Parc des Rapides | - | - | - | x |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.
All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz
Last updated: 2025-01-04