Barrow's goldeneye
Male Barrow's goldeneyes resemble common goldeneyes, but have more angular heads with a purple sheen, stubbier bills, darker backs, and a teardrop-shaped white patch in front of the eye (instead of a round one). Females (above, right; bottom) have yellowish beaks and a more abrupt forehead than the female common goldeneye. Both species dive for their food and have amusing head-tossing courtship displays, and 'submarine'-like threat displays (below, left). Mating is followed by a bizarre behavior in which the male grips the female's head or neck feathers and spins her around in the water a few times (below right). The pictures were taken in the bayfront park wetlands in Mountain View, California.
Images copyright by Mark A. Chappell
