The Common Goldeneye is a duck-sized aquatic bird (Family: Anatidae, Order: Anseriformes). The head and all the way to its neck of the female goldeneye is black, and its wings are black. The tip of the black spoon shaped bill of the goldeneye is brown. As the name suggests, the eyes of the goldeneye are golden colored.
The photo shows the white patch of the wings of the goldeneye. The female form of the goldeneye that does not have male form white patches on its cheeks. The goldeneyes (Bucephala spp.) have bulky triangular heads.
Clear Lake, CA 2008-02-01
The goldeneyes are hunted for sport in California.