Barrow's Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye - a Barnacle-eating Duck

Barrow's Goldeneye - Male and Female [Internet Photo]

The Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) is a waterfowl species of the northern hemisphere.  It inhabits mainly North America but also Iceland, Greenland and occasionally the United Kingdom. It is a permanent resident of both our west and east coasts.  It breeds in the west in Alaska, Yukon and British Columbia.  In the east it breeds in northern Labrador and north of the St. Lawrence River.  It is a winter resident of New Brunswick, being found mainly along the east coast but also in small numbers in open water along the St. John River.  

So, do they really eat barnacles?  Yes, the  Barrow's Goldeneyes seen hanging around wharves and other structures along our coasts are often stripping barnacles from these structures.  Barrow's Goldeneyes normally feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans, molluscs, small fish and aquatic plants.  They feed by diving from the surface.  It is common to see a mixed flock of goldeneyes on the surface and then, all of a sudden they are all dive to feed together, only to pop up individually soon afterwards.  Barrow's Goldeneyes usually flock with their close cousins, the Common Goldeneyes.

Barrow's Goldeneye - Male

Barrow's Goldeneyes are dressed in a sharply-contrasting black and white.  The males show a white crescent on the head and a white 'ladder' marking which makes a spur which separates the white breast from the white flank.  The female is more subdued in colour with a dark brown head, gray body, and an orange bill that becomes black in summer.  

Barrow's Goldeneye - Male and Females [Nelson Poirier Photo]

How do I tell a Barrow's Goldeneye from a Common Goldeneye?  For the beginning birder this can be a problem.  The male's important distinguishing features are the large white crescent on his face and the ladder jutting down into the white between the breast and flank.  He also has a distinct steep slope to his forehead as seen in the photo above.  The females are more difficult to tell apart.  The bill is important - it is almost completely orange in the Barrow's but only the tip is a yellowish orange in the Common Goldeneye.  As noted earlier the bill in the female cannot be used as a distinguishing feature in summer because it turns dark in the Barrow's.  This is not a problem for us since Barrow's Goldeneyes depart for breeding grounds in the north so we don't see them in summer.

Barrow's Goldeneyes (front), Common Goldeneye (back) [Brian Stone Photo]

In the photo above note the crescent on the face of the Barrow's Goldeneyes compared to the roundish spot on the face of the Common.  Also note how the ladder spur juts down in the Barrow's and not in the Common.

This species is not very vocal.  Apparently they do make a 'ka kra' sound.  What we often see are the males performing for the females as they approach breeding season before they leave here.  It is fun to see them throw their heads back and raise partly out of the water, hoping for female attention.  They are attempting to pair up before leaving for the north. 

In the north Barrow's Goldeneyes nest on coastal ponds and wetlands in tree or rock cavities.  Abandoned Pileated Woodpecker holes are very desirable.  The female builds the nest, lines it with her breast down, and lays 5 to 15 pale olive or blue green eggs.  She incubates these for 28 to 34 days.  

The population of Barrow's Goldeneyes is not large in New Brunswick.  A study is being conducted now to determine how many are wintering here.  I have seen 3 this winter at Mactaquac Dam and it would be fairly easy to see several off the east coast along the Shediac area.  

The Barrow's Goldeneye is a long-lived duck with an individual recorded to have lived 18 years.  They are slow maturing as well, females not breeding until the age of 3.  The Barrow's Goldeneye is a beautiful, stately breed and named after a British statesman, Sir John Barrow.  Undoubtedly it was after a group of these ducks that were wintering in the United Kingdom.

Now is the time to get out and try to find this challenging species.  It is beautiful and worth the try.  See you out there!