Common goldeneye

Pair of common goldeneyes in flight against a blue sky, the male with a green head and white cheek spot and the female with a brown head, Manitoba

The common goldeneye is a compact diving duck named for the bright golden-yellow eye of the adult. The male has a glossy green head with a round white spot at the base of the bill, a white body, and black on the back, while the female has a chocolate-brown head and a gray body.

Goldeneyes nest in tree cavities near northern lakes and rivers, and they will use old woodpecker holes or nest boxes. In Manitoba they are most often seen in migration and in winter on open water, and their wings make a distinctive whistling sound in flight.

The bright golden eye and round white cheek patch of a male goldeneye make it easy to pick out among the ducks.

Want to learn more about the common goldeneye and where it lives? Visit its page at All About Birds.

Field notes in photographs

  • Pair of common goldeneyes in flight against a blue sky, the male with a green head and white cheek spot and the female with a brown head, Manitoba
  • Common goldeneye photographed in Manitoba, 2
  • Common goldeneye photographed in Manitoba, 3
  • Common goldeneye taking off across the water
  • Common goldeneye pair, a female taking off beside a male

Common goldeneye Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the common goldeneye in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the common goldeneye nests and migrates, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the common goldeneye in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Shield, the Taiga Shield, the Hudson Plains, and the Boreal Plains (gold) and passing through the Prairies in spring and fall (lilac). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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