Specie's Page                                               Water Fowl - Goldeneye Duck

Goldeneye Duck:

UK Status: Resident, and overwintering migrant.

Habitat: This bird is mainly a coastal sea duck, but is also found in small numbers inland. Their normal habitat is Taiga in the northern breeding grounds.

Breeding: There is a small breeding population of about 200 pairs in the UK. These birds are bolstered in number to a few thousand by overwintering migrants. they mainly breed in Scotland, Canada, Russia, Scandinavia and the Baltic States. Goldeneye nest in tree cavities, but readily take to nest boxes. There are eight to eleven pale green eggs in a clutch. Females incubate the eggs, and are abandoned by the male after one, to two weeks of incubation, Chicks are only in the nest for twenty four, to thirty six hours, and the mother leaves them to fend for themselves after five, to six weeks..

Comment: Not very common in the British Isles, most breeding pairs are limited to Scotland, but odd ones are seen else where. The 21,000 overwintering birds are more widely distributed throughout the UK, and are mainly coastal
Isles

BE AWARE PLEASE:  Ground nesting birds are very vulnerable to having their eggs and chicks smashed or crushed. This can happen when people are unaware of their presence, or when dogs are allowed to run loose during the breeding season. Nests are very well hidden, and are not usually spotted until it's to late. Dogs often have no concern for ground nesting birds, please keep them on their leads from April through to the end of September.