Originally found and photographed 18 November by Robert Ho, this species is an uncommon visitor to California from breeding grounds in Alaska and Western Canada. The last one in San Francisco was 15 years ago. This is an immature female based on its dull yellow eye and scruffy appearance, In comparison with the more familiar Common Goldeneye, Barrow's has a steeper forehead, smaller bill and dark lesser coverts. Even though breeding populations are widely separated, no subspecies have been named. However females of western North America usually have a yellow bill as seen here, while those from Iceland do not.
