Posted by Reid Barclay (24.71.223.142) on March 01, 2003 at 21:56:09:
In Reply to: Goldeneye posted by Gary Potter on March 01, 2003 at 16:00:52:
: This looks like a pretty straight foreward Common Goldeneye. The only feature which might point toward Barrow's is the rather steep forehead, but I think this is due to the bird's activity. Goldeneye head shape, like the scaups, changes with activity. This bird's crown feathers look like they are raised in agitation, which would probably make the forehead look steeper. Bill shape, bill color, and all other plumage features point toward Common. --Gary
My feelings exactly, head shape is extremely variable and deceiving. In fact, I watched a male C. Goldeneye "display" his crown to a male Barrow's earlier this week on the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. That made the CoGo look very close to a BaGo in pattern that made me double-check the rest of the face pattern for the presence on the round white spot! On this bird in the picture, which is of a female because of the pale tip of the bill and the lack of even a hint of some white feathering where the white spot on the face whould be on a male, or sub-adult. I also find that after twenty years of looking at Barrow's & Common's in winter at close range on the Bow River, that even from a distance the bill shape is quite diagnostic.