Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula (Linnaeus, 1758)

		male female
2021-02-17 Karakol,Issyk-kul region 2021-02-17 Karakol,Issyk-kul region	© Elvira Gazieva © Elvira Gazieva

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits forested lakes and slow flowing rivers with fish, both on steppes and in mountains up to 1700-1750 m in Altai. Appears very early; in southern areas migrates from end February to mid or end April; in northern areas from April to mid or end May. Migrates by day and by night in flocks of 10-30, rarely 100 birds. Nests in separate pairs in tree holes (Poplar, Birch, Larch) 2-10 m above ground, and very rarely on ground between tree roots or in rock faces. Without difficulty accepts wooden nest boxes. Female clears old nest from tree hole. Nest cup lined only with down. Clutches of 7-12 eggs in mid-May – mid-June. Female incubates 30 days and rears juveniles which hatches mid-June – mid-July. Males and unattached birds gather for moult on big lakes end May – early July. Autumn migration lasts from early September to end October – mid-November.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.