January 2023 - 43

Common goldeneyes take flight by running across the water's surface, so they need larger areas of open water than some other waterfowl. (Photo by Troy Powell)
COMMON GOLDENEYES
The common goldeneye is a medium-sized
duck with a large head. They have a narrow
bill that gives the head a triangular look.
Females have brown heads with a gray back
and wings. Their bill is mostly black becoming
yellow at the tip, and their legs are yellow.
Males are more colorful than females. They
are mostly black and white. The male's head
is black-iridescent green with a white spot
near the bill. The bill is black and the feet
are yellow. As the name suggests, common
goldeneyes have a striking yellow eye.
Common goldeneyes are diving ducks,
so they dive underwater for their food. In
Wyoming, they are most associated with
larger bodies of water like large rivers that
haven't iced up. They need more room to take
off and land than other ducks, so large, open
bodies of water are needed. Although they
are spotted in lakes and wetlands earlier in
the season, they're more likely to be found
on a large river in January.
Most waterfowl hunters don't hunt specifically
for goldeneyes, instead taking them
when the opportunity presents itself while
looking for other waterfowl. They aren't
known for their taste, and they can be more
difficult to clean than a mallard or Canada
goose due to tighter skin.
Because their food source is closely tied
to water, you won't find these ducks in fields.
Instead, stick to the rivers if you want to
see a common goldeneye. They sit toward
the middle of the river, so it's best to set up
where they would be in shooting range like
on an island. If that's not possible, bring a
little larger firepower to get the ducks at a
greater distance. They are tough birds, so be
prepared to pursue them if they are injured
by your shot.
Common goldeneyes will drop in if they
see something that grabs their attention, otherwise
they may fly by. Having a few decoys
in the water can help grab their attention, and
weights may be needed to keep them in place.
" Calling isn't very effective with common
goldeneyes, " Jensen noted. " They don't
respond to very much. They have to see something
to grab their attention for them to stop. "
Wyoming Wildlife | 43
" Calling isn't very effective
with common goldeneyes.
They don't respond to very
much. They have to see
something to grab their
attention for them to stop. "
- Brian Jensen

January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2023

January 2023 - 1
January 2023 - 2
January 2023 - 3
January 2023 - 4
January 2023 - 5
January 2023 - 6
January 2023 - 7
January 2023 - 8
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January 2023 - 43
January 2023 - 44
January 2023 - 45
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January 2023 - 48
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/wyoming-wildlife-may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2024-e-edition
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-iak-special-issue
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/dec-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/January2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/December2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/September2020
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