Barrow's Goldeneye Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBarrow's Goldeneye
Adult male
Medium-sized duck with a triangular head, steep forehead, and rather straight bill. White patch behind bill is usually crescent shaped. Small white spots along mostly black wing.
© Blair Dudeck / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, April 24, 2020Adult male
Jumps up slightly before diving underwater in search of aquatic invertebrates, fish eggs, and plant material.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryOregon, March 20, 2001Not all videos have sound
Adult male
In flight, white panels on wing don't reach the leading edge. White face patch is crescent shaped.
© Caroline Lambert / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, April 14, 2017Male
Medium-sized duck with a steep forehead that meets bill at an abrupt angle. Bill is blackish (female's is yellowish). White facial patch is crescent shaped.
© Tammy McQuade / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 04, 2017Female and chick
Female has white collar that can be hidden depending on posture. Brown head contrasts with gray body. Ducklings are dark with white throats.
© Ryan Shaw / Macaulay LibraryWashington, June 20, 2013Female
Medium-sized duck with a large head, steep forehead, and fairly straight, mostly yellow bill. Warm brown head contrasts with gray body.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 22, 2008Flock
Can form large flocks, in which males often display for females. Occurs on inland lakes and rivers as well as coastal waters.
© Ken Langelier / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, November 09, 2016Similar SpeciesCommon Goldeneye
Adult male
The white facial spot on Common Goldeneyes is round, while it is oval or crescent-shaped on Barrow's Goldeneyes. Male Commons are whiter on the sides than Barrow's and lack the black side spur.
© sam hough / Macaulay LibraryArizona, February 07, 2017Similar SpeciesCommon Goldeneye
Female
Common Goldeneyes have a more peaked head compared to the flatter head of Barrow's Goldeneyes. Female Commons often have a longer bill with less yellow on it than female Barrow's Goldeneyes, and a more gradual transition between bill and forehead.
© Patrick J. Blake / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 02, 2017Similar SpeciesBufflehead
Breeding male
Smaller than Barrow's Goldeneye. Males have a large white patch at the back of the head, not behind the bill like Barrow's Goldeneyes.
© Liron Gertsman / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, November 21, 2015Similar SpeciesBufflehead
Female
Smaller than Barrow's Goldeneye. Females are more uniform brown, with a white patch on the head that female goldeneyes lack.
© Bridget Spencer / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, December 24, 2015Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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