Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is in the Ducks, Geese, and Swans family (Anatidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 33,509 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Common Goldeneye: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Goldeneye
The common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. Its closest relative is the similar Barrow's goldeneye. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek boukephalos ("bullheaded", from bous, "bull " and kephale, "head"), a reference to the bulbous head shape of the bufflehead. The species name is derived from the Latin clangere ("to resound").From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Goldeneye by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9,740 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Washington | 3,842 | January | Dec–Apr |
| Illinois | 2,361 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Colorado | 2,042 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Massachusetts | 1,234 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Oregon | 1,155 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Minnesota | 1,086 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Michigan | 1,037 | February | Dec–May |
| Wisconsin | 921 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Idaho | 903 | February | Nov–Mar |
| New York | 784 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Utah | 710 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Texas | 604 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Vermont | 544 | March | Jan–Apr |
| Ohio | 518 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Maine | 514 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Maryland | 470 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Alaska | 442 | April | Sep–May |
| Arizona | 433 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Montana | 430 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 345 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Nevada | 267 | December | Nov–Mar |
| Connecticut | 222 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Oklahoma | 215 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Kansas | 210 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Indiana | 209 | February | Dec–Mar |
| South Dakota | 189 | January | Dec–Mar |
| New Mexico | 179 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Virginia | 172 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Wyoming | 168 | February | Jan–Mar |
| New Jersey | 164 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Rhode Island | 161 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Missouri | 156 | December | Dec–Feb |
| Florida | 119 | January | Dec–Jan |
| New Hampshire | 115 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Iowa | 108 | December | Dec–Mar |
| Tennessee | 106 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Nebraska | 95 | March | Nov–Mar |
| North Carolina | 74 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Alabama | 67 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Arkansas | 62 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Mississippi | 54 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Kentucky | 53 | December | Nov–Mar |
| Georgia | 44 | January | Dec–Feb |
| North Dakota | 43 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Delaware | 37 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Louisiana | 36 | January | Nov–Feb |
| West Virginia | 34 | February | Jan–Feb |
| South Carolina | 26 | January | Nov–Jan |
| District of Columbia | 9 | January | Jan–Feb |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
Mallard
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Bufflehead
American Wigeon
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Duck
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Common Goldeneye?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from December to March.
Where is Common Goldeneye most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Illinois.