Goldeneye 007 Pc Download
Tuula Zeoli
Features: Drakes have a black head with a white spot below and in front of the eye -- rather than the crescent-shaped patch of the barrow's goldeneye -- white neck, breast and flanks and a black back and tail. Hens have a brown head, light neck, breast and belly, brown backs and flanks. Drakes and hens of both common and Barrow's goldeneye have a distinctive golden ring around the pupil.
The Barrow's Goldeneye is primarily a bird of the western mountain region of North America. It nests farther north than the Common Goldeneye, and in some cases even north of the tree line. The Barrow's Goldeneye prefers small, clear lakes and ponds that are not crowded with submergent and emergent vegetation and that do not support populations of fish. Goldeneyes are cavity-nesting ducks and typically use forested habitat with mature trees (deciduous or coniferous) that offer suitable nesting cavities. They have also been known to nest in other areas as well (see Nesting). During migration, goldeneyes stop to feed on large lakes and rivers. During winter they often frequent marine areas in shallow protected bays, estuaries, and large lakes with a sandy, gravel, or rocky substrate.
Barrow's Goldeneyes are diving ducks, and whole groups of goldeneyes will dive at the same time. They forage around pilings, and most of their foraging is under water. Barrow's Goldeneyes are aggressive and territorial, even more so than Common Goldeneyes. Males will defend territories, and females will defend areas around their broods excluding their own and other species. The males exhibit spectacular and complex courtship displays. Females commonly lay eggs in the nests of both other Barrow's Goldeneyes and other ducks, especially other cavity-nesting ducks.
The Barrow's is the least numerous of the two species of goldeneyes and is more restricted in range than the Common Goldeneye. Numbers appear to be stable, but there is some question about whether current surveying techniques are adequate for this species. Low productivity and strong site-fidelity make them slow to rebound from decreases. Oil spills on wintering areas, heavy metal accumulation in prey, recreational development on nesting lakes, and loss of habitat from logging are all potential threats. The population on the Pacific coast makes up 90% of the world population, increasing the significance of local threats to the population as a whole.
Among Common Goldeneyes pair formation begins in midwinter, and until then the two sexes often form separate flocks. Indeed, males winter farther north than do the females. During its courtship display, the male stretches his head forward along the water and then snaps it rapidly upward over his back, bill pointed skyward, while uttering a shrill, two-noted call. Then he swings his orange feet forward, sending up a small shower in front of him. The wings of this species produce a loud whistling sound in flight, easily identified even when the birds cannot be seen; hunters call this species the "Whistler." Goldeneyes can dive to depths of 20 feet (6 meters) or more, but generally limit themselves to about 10 feet (3 meters). In winter, goldeneyes feed mainly on mollusks; in summer, their diet shifts to aquatic plants and insects.
The Common Goldeneye is almost exclusively a boreal breeder. In North America, its breeding range extends from west-central Alaska across the Canadian forests and prairies to the Maritimes and south to the northern tier of states. As mentioned above, this duck is a cavity nester. Inexperienced and unsuccessful females typically form small flocks and prospect for suitable nest cavities the summer before breeding. Typical of ducks, goldeneyes then pair on the winter grounds. The males perform a spectacular and complex courtship display including 14 distinct behaviors in winter and spring; usually about four males display to each female. These behaviors include throwing the head back, kicking the water, and calling. Interested females respond with up to three of these behaviors. Once paired, the male tends the female, driving away other males, until she departs for her preselected nest site with him in tow (and often with unsuccessful males following). Elaborate territorial displays and defenses are undertaken by the male for the duration of the northward migration. The male guards his mate while she lays 7 to 10 eggs, indicating that other males may attempt to copulate with her, but abandons her soon after clutch completion. Usually only one egg is laid every other day and, at least during the early stages of laying, the pair spends considerable time away from the nest. Females of this and other cavity-nesting ducks often "dump" their eggs in other females' unattended nests, especially in areas where nest sites are scarce. Female goldeneyes may wind up raising young of several species. If egg dumping occurs early enough, the female goldeneye can adjust her own egg output to avoid winding up with too many eggs to raise. Since females often nest near their birthplaces, related birds often are parasitizing one another, so the genetic cost to the hostess may be reduced. Further, host females likely are also dumping their own eggs. The incubation period is about 30 days; the precocial young jump from the nest within two days of hatching and follow their "mother" to the water, which may be as much as two miles away. Females guard the young but do not feed them, and abandon them before they can fly. Broods often converge after abandonment or as a result of separation from their "mothers," which often, especially on small lakes, is the result of territorial disputes between females. The limited amount of parental care in ducks minimizes the energetic cost of raising others' young. Only about a third of young survive to flying age.
Often found in large rafts outside the breeding season, Common Goldeneyes are frequent winter residents in Puget Sound and on large Washington rivers. The male Common Goldeneye has a dark iridescent-green head that looks black when not in the sun. He also has a prominent round or oval white spot on each side of his face at the base of his black bill. His belly and flanks are white, and his rump is black. His back is mostly white with black bars. The female Common Goldeneye has a gray body, brown head, and yellow eyes. This bird can be very difficult to distinguish from a female Barrow's Goldeneye. The bill of the Common Goldeneye is mostly black with a yellow tip, while that of the Barrow's is mostly yellow. Juveniles are gray with brownish heads, similar to females but with less differentiation between the head and body colors. Consult a field guide or an experienced observer, consider range and habitat, and study nearby males for clues about which female and juvenile goldeneyes might be present.
Common Goldeneyes breed worldwide in northern boreal forests. They prefer clear water in small lakes and ponds that are not overwhelmed with submergent and emergent vegetation and which do not support populations of fish. Goldeneyes are cavity-nesting ducks and generally require forested habitat with mature trees (deciduous or coniferous) that offer suitable nesting cavities. During migration, goldeneyes stop on large lakes and rivers to feed while they move between breeding and wintering habitats. They winter primarily in marine areas, in shallow protected bays, estuaries, and large lakes with a sandy, gravel, or rocky substrate. They are occasionally found on sewage lagoons, and non-breeding birds sometimes summer in these areas.
Common Goldeneyes are diving ducks and forage mostly under water. Often a whole group of goldeneyes will dive at the same time. Goldeneyes are aggressive and territorial, and the male performs spectacular and complex courtship displays. The female commonly lays eggs in the nests of other Common Goldeneyes and other ducks, especially other cavity-nesting ducks.
On the breeding grounds, aquatic insects make up the bulk of the diet, and in fact, goldeneyes prefer ponds that lack insect-eating fish which compete for prey. On wintering grounds, mollusks, crustaceans, and fish are the main foods.
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