Common goldeneye

Common goldeneye
Adult male
Adult female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Bucephala
Species:
B. clangula
Binomial name
Bucephala clangula
Subspecies
  • B. c. clangula (Linnaeus, 1758)

(Eurasian goldeneye)

(American goldeneye)

  Breeding
  Nonbreeding
Synonyms
  • Anas bucephala Linnaeus, 1758
  • Anas glaucion Linnaeus, 1758
  • Clangula clangula (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bucephala clangula Pair
Female goldeneye with chicks

The common goldeneye or simply goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. Its closest relative is the similar Barrow's goldeneye.[2] The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek boukephalos ("bullheaded", from bous, "bull " and kephale, "head"), a reference to the bulbous head shape of the bufflehead. The species name is derived from the Latin clangere ("to resound").

Common goldeneyes are aggressive and territorial ducks, and have elaborate courtship displays.[2]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Bucephala clangula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22680455A132529366. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22680455A132529366.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Eadie, J. M.; Mallory, M. L.; Lumsden, H. G. (1995). "Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)". The Birds of North America Online. doi:10.2173/bna.170.