Family:
Barrow’s goldeneye is a medium-sized, stocky diving seaduck with a large, oblong-shaped head. It is named after the English geographer and linguist, Sir John Barrow.
The adult Barrow’s goldeneye is similar to the common goldeneye. The male has a dark triangular-shaped head with a purple gloss, and a white crescent at the front of the face just behind the bill. It has a white belly and small white spots along the black wings. The eyes are bright yellow and the bill is dark. Females are grey with a copper-brown head and yellow bill. They are smaller than the males.
They spend much of their time on water, and have a stiff flight with rapid wingbeats but can fly easily through dense forests. Females can often be heard calling as they fly.
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Barrow’s goldeneyes eat aquatic insects, molluscs, mussels, crustaceans, and pond matter which they forage for underwater, often diving for extended periods.
Barrow’s goldeneyes are found primarily in northwestern North America but also in eastern Canada and Iceland. They breed in shallow freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers. In winter they inhabit mostly rocky marine coastlines.
