The Golden-eye Duck 

 THE GOLDEN-EYE DUCK 



Clangula glaucion (Linnaeus) 



Breeding in Northern Europe, this species generally 

 arrives here in October, and may be found sparingly on in- 

 land rivers and lakes, as well as in estuaries, becoming 

 commoner in the north. In food and general habits it 

 much resembles the preceding species, but its nest is placed 

 in holes of trees at some distance from the ground, the old 

 hole of a Black Woodpecker being frequently made use of 

 in Scandinavia. The Lapps, in order to obtain the eggs of 

 this and other kindred species, place nest-boxes in the 

 pine and birch woods, the majority of which are tenanted 

 by this species. The eggs, about twelve in number, are 

 bright green. It has never been known to nest with us. 



The male has the head and upper neck glossy greenish 

 black, with a conspicuous white oval patch under each eye : 

 the rest of the upper parts, except the scapulars, black ; 

 scapulars, a large wing patch, and under parts white. Bill 

 bluish black. Legs yellow, with black webs. The female 

 has the black parts in the male replaced by greyish brown, 

 and the white wing patch is much smaller in extent. The 

 white spot below the eye is absent. The neck and breast 

 are greyish. The young resemble the female. Length 

 18-5 in. ; wing 8-25 in. 



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