93 
Distribution. Across the continent, but records of the King-necked are so confused 
with those of the Scaups that the ranges are not very well delimited. It appears to breed in 
the woodland regions north of the prairies, north at least to the Mackenzie valley, and in 
the Cariboo district of British Columbia. More information is desired concerning the 
breeding habits of this bird. 
151. American Golden-eye. whistler, whistlewing, greathead. ( Incorrectly 
wood duck). Glaucionetta dangula. L, 20. Plate X B. The male is a striking black 
and white Duck with yellow eyes. The female is light coloured, with sharply contrasted 
seal-brown head. 
Distinctions. The adult male is too distinct in coloration to be confused with any- 
thing except Barrow’s Golden-eye. The juvenile male and female can be distinguished 
from all similar birds by general lightness; back ashy grey 
rather than brownish, and seal-brown head sharply contrasting 
with a white neck. The adult male differs from the male of 
Barrow’s Golden-eye in having greenish instead of purple reflec- 
tions to head, oval instead of crescentic white face mark; flank, 
feather group with narrower black border and with considerably 
more white in wing and back pattern. Juvenile males and 
females can best be separated by the shape of the bill. In this 
species, the bill (Figure 128, compare with Figure 129) is larger, 
longer for its height, and of less stubby appearance. It is also of 
more even width with less taper towards the tip. These bill 
characters may not be as well-marked in all specimens as shown 
in the figures but are generally recognizable. For further differ- 
ences see Barrow’s Golden-eye, the next species. 
Field Marks. In flight, Golden-eyes are large, black and 
white or grey and white Ducks with considerable white on 
wings and big, round, black, or very dark, heads in decided 
contrast to body. The big, round head and short, stocky neck are 
recognizable at a distance at which all colour distinctions are lost. 
The loud whistling of the wings in flight is well known and suggests one of the most 
common popular names. The species is not likely to be confused with any species but 
Barrow’s Golden-eye. Males may be distinguished from Barrow’s by the round instead 
of crescentic white face spot, when that is visible, and, on the water, by the relative amount 
of black and white displayed. This species, having white flank feathers normally covering 
the edge of the wing and more white in back and wing, appears as mostly white on the 
body instead of mostly black as in Barrow’s Golden-eye. Juveniles and females of the 
two species are not to be distinguished in life with any certainty, the larger amount of 
white on the lesser wing coverts of this species may be suggestive at times, though 
Barrow’s Golden-eye usually shows a darker head with a higher forehead. 
Nesting. In hollow stumps or trees, or even in openings in buildings. 
Distribution. The greater part of the northern hemisphere. In America across the 
continent, nesting as far north as suitable timber occurs. 
SUBSPECIES. The New World form of this species is subspecifically separated 
from the Golden-eye of the Old World as the American Golden-eye Glaucionetta dangula 
americana. 
Figure 128 
Bill outline of American 
Golden-eye; scale, 
The Golden-eye is one of the best-known Ducks. The shrill whistling 
of its wings as it whirls by the blind makes it notable to the shooter and its 
habit of nesting in trees and other hollows has drawn the attention 
of others, and suggested the misnomer, Wood Duck. Its fondness 
for nesting in various cavities leads at times to rather peculiar and 
interesting choice of locations. They sometimes come through stove- 
pipe or other holes into unused attics. In Camrose, Alberta, one persisted 
in using the chimney of a residence for its nest, until a false flue was sub- 
stituted. In this case, the ducklings, when freed from the shell, scrambled 
in some way to the top of the chimney, and flinging themselves over the 
edge, rolled and bounced resiliency to the ground unhurt, there to be led 
away by the mother to the nearest water. In this case and in some others 
authentically reported of this species, the young were not assisted to the 
ground in any way. 
