Common Goldeneye
Common GoldeneyeCommon GoldeneyeCommon GoldeneyeCommon Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Isle Royale National Park
267 Verified sightings at Isle Royale National Park From 2019 to 2026
6,926 Verified sightings across all 31 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Common Goldeneye

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. 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. The common goldeneye was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Anas clangula. Linnaeus specified the type location as Europe but in 1761 restricted this to Sweden. The common goldeneye is now one of three species placed in the genus Bucephala that was introduced in 1858 by the American naturalist Spencer Baird. The genus name is from Ancient Greek boukephalos meaning "bullheaded" or "large-headed". The specific epithet is from Latin clangere meaning "to resound".

Two subspecies are recognised: B. c. clangula (Linnaeus, 1758) – subarctic from Scotland and Scandinavia... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Isle Royale National Park

Bufflehead
LC

Bufflehead

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucephala albeola

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Common Merganser
LC

Common Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus merganser

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Red-breasted Merganser
LC

Red-breasted Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus serrator

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Trumpeter Swan
LC

Trumpeter Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus buccinator

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Hooded Merganser
LC

Hooded Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophodytes cucullatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
American Black Duck
LC

American Black Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas rubripes

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Canvasback
LC

Canvasback

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya valisineria

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Ring-necked Duck
LC

Ring-necked Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya collaris

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Lesser Scaup
LC

Lesser Scaup

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya affinis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Blue-winged Teal
LC

Blue-winged Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula discors

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~40%
2 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~30%
3 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
4 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
5 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~20%
6 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
7 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
8 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
~10%
9 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
10 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
11 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
12 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
13 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
~10%
14 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
15 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
<5%
16 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
17 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
18 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
19 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
<5%
20 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
21 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
22 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
23 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
24 Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park 🇲🇳 Mongolia
<5%
25 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
26 Jiuzhaigou National Park 🇨🇳 China
Insufficient data
27 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
28 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
29 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
30 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
31 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Common Goldeneye in Isle Royale National Park?

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Goldeneye sighting in Isle Royale National Park, based on 267 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Common Goldeneye in Isle Royale National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Common Goldeneye in Isle Royale National Park in our monthly data.

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