Order ANSERIFORMES | Family ANATIDAE |
Bucephala clangula Linnaeus, 1758 Common Goldeneye Races:
Common breeding migrant. Inhabits forested lakes and slow flowing rivers with fish, both on plains and in mountains up to 1700-1750 m in Altai. Appears very early, in southern areas migrates from end February to mid- or end April; in northern areas from April to mid- or end May. Migrates in flocks of 10-30, rarely 100 birds by day and by night. Nests in separate pairs in tree holes (Poplar, Birch, Larch) 2-10 m above ground, and very rarely on ground between tree roots or in rock faces. Readily accepts wooden nest boxes. Female clears old nest from tree hole. Nest cup lined only with down. Clutches of 7-12 eggs in mid-May – mid-June. Female incubates 30 days and rears juveniles which hatches mid-June – mid-July, latest birds begin to fly mid-September. Males and unmarried birds gather for moult on big lakes end May – early July. Autumn migration lasts from early September to end October – mid-November.
Breeds in valleys of middle parts of Ural and Ilek rivers, in Naurzum Reserve on Malyy Aksuat lake, in Kokchetav upland, in Semipalatinsk area, on Chernyy Irtysh river and on Southern Altai (Markakol’ lake). At once a brood recorded in upper Bukhtarma river, on lake near Uryl’ village 23 June 2001. Widespread during migration. Rare wintering in southern and south-eastern Kazakhstan; in particular on Sorbulak lake, where two birds recorded 15 December and 10-30 from November till April; in mild winters on Barsa-Kelmes I. in Aral Sea and also on Markakol’ lake. Two birds observed on Kzylkol lake 20 April 2005.
Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
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