Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Vancouver
By Charlie • February 26, 2009 • 5 commentsMany North American birders (I think I’m right in saying) think of the Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica as a primarily western species of rocky coasts and large bays and harbours, but this lovely duck actually breeds in most of arctic coastal North America and also in sw Greenland and Iceland (where it is common, and where the specific name ‘islandica’ comes from as the species was first described here). Though it’s less likely to be found far inland than its close relative the Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula, Barrow’s Goldeneyes breed primarily in tree hollows along alkaline to freshwater lakes and to a lesser extent on subalpine lakes, beaver ponds, and small sloughs in western mountain and intermountain areas of North America (in Quebec, they apparently prefer to nest by small fishless lakes that are found above 500 m (1600 ft)). In Iceland, where the trees are stunted and too small to contain hollows large enough, many Barrows breed in lava crevasses where they are protected from the weather
This particular small flock of Barrow’s Goldeneyes was photographed in mid-February off Brockton Point in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. They kept close together and were drifting in and out from the sea-wall where they were feeding on molluscs (and attracting a lot of interest from passers-by). Aside from the chance of getting really good looks at a species I only usually see once or twice a year, it was interesting to see so many different plumages present in one group - from breeding males and females to first-winter males and what I assume are 1st winter females…
| Even at long-range the dark vertical “spur” just forward of the wing is a good identification feature of male Barrow’s Goldeneyes. |
| This post is not intended as an ID article, but I’ve included a male Common Goldeneye here to demonstrate the much whiter appearance of Common vs Barrow’s, especially in a rear-view like this one where the head-shape and facial patch shape are not visible. |
| 1st winter male (rear) and what I think must be a 1st winter female judging by the colour-tone of the head and bill. Comments welcomed…. |
Finally three photos that aren’t much use for identification or are especially aesthetic, but I’ve not been positioned almost directly above diving Barrow’s Goldeneyes before and I can’t resist posting a few “underwater” shots…
Those photos up close to the rocks and underwater are superb. You don’t get to see much of birds underwater.
Great post as always Charlie. Like Nick I love the underwater shots, especially the second one.
Is there some way I can do what you do - and never have to do anything else?
Beautiful pictures as always.
And as someone who has ventured above the Mason-Dixon line only about three times in my life, it’s really nice to see birds I would otherwise never get see.
“Beautiful Bird, Lovely Plumage” (yeah - i’m sure you’ve never heard that one here).
great pix of goldeneyes!
I enjoy watching these birds all winter in Indian Arm.
they’ve just come back from their summer…Nov1
Awesome pictures <3