Barrow’s Goldeneye: A Magnificent Bird of The Water
Barrow’s Goldeneye is a waterbird that belongs to the family Anatidae. This bird gets its name from Sir John Barrow, an English statesman and geographer who was instrumental in organizing expeditions to explore the Arctic regions.
Basic Description:
Barrow’s Goldeneye has a medium-sized body with a length ranging from 38 – 50 cm (15 – 20 inches) and weighs about 900 g (2 lbs). It has a distinctive black head with a greenish shine, white patch behind the eye, and prominent round white cheek patches. Males have yellow eyes while females have brown eyes. They also have grey wings with conspicuous white wing patches in flight.
Where To Find This Bird:
Barrow’s Goldeneyes breed primarily in western North America from Alaska down into northern California. They can be seen year-round on some Pacific Northwest coastal waters where they feed upon small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and plant material.
Habitat:
During breeding season or summer months; Barrow’s goldeneyes prefer freshwater rivers or lakes surrounded by coniferous forests for nesting sites. In winters when they migrate away from their breeding grounds towards marine coasts mainly bays or estuaries habitats where they spend most of their time diving for food beneath the surface of saltwater bodies.
Food:
Goldeneyes feed mostly on small prey items such as shrimp-like crustaceans called amphipods as well as clams, snails but also take larger fish up to around four inches long which make up roughly thirty-five percent of their diet during certain times of the year.
Cool Facts:
* During courtship displays males perform high-speed chases after their desired female partners.
* Even though these birds are good divers it is still difficult for them sometimes to dive deep enough due to strong currents; this makes them vulnerable to predation from large fish.
* Barrow’s goldeneyes are not hunted as much as other waterbirds because they tend to be less common and more difficult to hunt due to their fast-paced movements.
In conclusion, Barrow’s Goldeneye is a magnificent bird of the water that deserves our admiration for its ability to survive in harsh environments like the Arctic regions. If you ever get a chance to spot this unique bird in its natural habitat, consider yourself lucky!
