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Common Goldeneye Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Display calls
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Alberta, April 22, 1982Recorded by William W. H. Gunn | Macaulay Library
Female calls
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Alaska, July 10, 2007Recorded by Gerrit Vyn | Macaulay Library
Wing whistle
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Alberta, May 10, 1982Recorded by William W. H. Gunn | Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

Despite their scientific species name (clangula, or “screaming”) Common Goldeneyes are usually silent. Males give a single, short, faint peent as part of several courtship displays and a grunting sound following copulation. Females give a harsh, croaking gack when disturbed. When circling a lake or prospecting for nest sites, females sometimes make a series of short cuk calls.

Other Sounds

In flight, Common Goldeneye wings create a distinctive whistling sound.

Compare with Similar Species

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Barrow's Goldeneye Adult male is similar to Common Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye Female is similar to Common Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

Bufflehead Breeding male is similar to Common Goldeneye

Bufflehead Female is similar to Common Goldeneye

Species in This Family

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family:Anatidae)

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

Blue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Eurasian Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

American Wigeon

American Black Duck

American Black Duck

Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Green-winged Teal

Ring-necked Duck

Ring-necked Duck

Steller's Eider

Steller's Eider

White-winged Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Common Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Browse Species in This Family

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Common Goldeneye

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Sounds

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