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Cavity Nester
Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
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Bucephala clangula
Striking black-and-white diving duck of boreal lakes with a piercing golden eye and a distinctive whistling wing-sound in flight. One of the largest North American cavity-nesting birds.
Widespread and abundant; no known immediate threats to the population.
Wings produce a high-pitched whistling sound in flight that's audible up to a half-mile away, birders nicknamed them 'whistlers.'
Females show extraordinary nest-site fidelity, banded individuals have returned to the same nest box for 14+ consecutive years.
Ducklings make a stunning leap of faith from cavities 20–40 ft up, falling to the ground (or water) within hours of hatching.
Most overwinter on coastal salt water from Alaska to the Gulf, despite breeding deep in the boreal interior.
Breeds across the boreal forest zone of Alaska and Canada; winters along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts.
Common from Alaska east across Canada to Newfoundland in forested-lake country.
Most of the US population winters on coastal salt water, with smaller numbers on the Great Lakes and large rivers.
This species needs a box larger or differently-shaped than our three standard sizes. We make these as one-off prints to the published nest dimensions, with all the species-specific requirements baked in.
Females show high nest-site fidelity, same female may return to the same box for 10+ years.