From Opus

Bucephala islandica

Photo by snowyowl
Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada

[edit] Identification

43-48cm. Males - dark head with a purplish gloss, white crescent at the front of the face. Females have a yellow bill.

[edit] Similar Species

Very similar to Common Goldeneye

[edit] Distribution

A mainly North American duck, the only Western Palearctic breeding area is Iceland where a fairly common resident, especially in the Lake Myvatn area.

Elsewhere in Europe a vagrant or escape recorded in the Faroes and Britain east to Sweden, Poland and northern Russia, north to Svalbard and south to Spain. Other reports have involved obvious escapes and until ringing recoveries show genuine vagrancy does occur then all reports of this species must be treated with caution. Icelandic birds are sedentary, remaining on breeding waters or moving to larger lakes nearby. Any genuine vagrants in Europe are more likely to originate from the more migratory Canadian populations.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Breeds on small lakes and rivers, some moving to larger freshwaters and sheltered coasts nearby in winter.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes aquatic insects, crustaceans and pond vegetation.

They nest in cavities in trees or in burrows or protected sites on the ground.

[edit] External Links