June 2009
Barrow's Goldeneye is distributed from southern Alaska to northern California and Wyoming in the west of North America and, on the Atlantic coast in Labrador and the north-east of the USA, south-wets Greenland and Iceland. It feeds in freshwater lakes, pools and rivers and winters on large, unfrozen lakes or on the coast.
The male is similar to the Common Goldeneye B. clangula
but has a different shaped and larger white spot on the cheek and a different pattern of white on the scapulars. The female is similar to Common
Goldeneye female but has more yellow on the bill and a different shape of head.
The English name comes from Sir John Barrow who was one of the founders of the Royal Geographical Society and after whom Barrow Point in Alaska and
Barrow Strait in northern Canada are named.
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