The male Goldeneye has a metallic green-black head with a large round white spot on the cheek, golden-yellow eyes, a black beak, a white neck and belly, dark back, black tail, rump and vent area, visable elongated black and white scapulars and orange-yellow legs and feet.
The female has a dark chocolate-brown head and neck, black beak with sometimes a yellowish tip, pale yellow or whitish eyes, brown-grey body with whitish breast and underparts.
The male in eclipse plumage looks very much like the female but retains its wing pattern and has golden-yellow eyes while the female's are pale yellow or whitish.
Typical Adult is 45-52cm (18-21in).
Crustaceans, aquatic insects, molluscs, shrimps, small crabs also aquatic plants.
Lakes, and rivers of boreal forests, and also coastal waters. Breeding in the Taiga region of Canada, north USA, Scandinavia, and north Russia. Wintering further south in more temperate lattitudes.
May and June.
6 to 11 (bluish-green colour).
River Cottage's collection of Ducks changes regularly. Please visit us regularly to keep up-to-date with our flock
Click the button above to add a pair of European/Common Goldeneyes to 'My Enquiries' which is available at the top of each page, and similar to a 'basket' on an ecommerce website!
Note: All birds are subject to availability and we reserve the right to alter prices as the market and our costs dictate. Viewing is strictly by appointment. Please contact us for futher details
