Goldeneye

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Goldeneye, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Red listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	Yes
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(I,II), WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA

The Goldeneye has increased substantially from a single-figure breeding population in the 1970s (Eaton et al. 2021). The current population is thought to be around 200 pairs (APEP4), with the majority of the UK population breeding in Scotland, but the more recent trend has not been measured after monitoring of the full Scottish population ceased in 2010 (Eaton et al. 2021)

UK winter population

-54% decrease (1996/97–2021/22)

In winter, Goldeneyes are found in coastal areas and a wide variety of freshwater habitats throughout Scotland and northern England, with the exception of some upland areas. Farther south, in England, Wales and Ireland, the distribution is patchier and centred on suitable coastal areas, river valleys and wetland networks. Records of confirmed breeding are concentrated in Strathspey and around the Great Glen in Inverness-shire, along the River Dee in Aberdeenshire, and around Loch Tay in Perthshire. Elsewhere, the only confirmed breeding records are from Northumberland and Avon.

The number of 10-km squares with probable or confirmed breeding by Goldeneyes increased from 13 to 38 between the 1988–91 and 2008–11 breeding atlases, and includes colonisation of Perthshire and Aberdeenshire.

Goldeneyes are predominantly winter visitors, arriving gradually through September and October, departing through April.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	12 years 0 months 18 days (set in 2008)
Typical Lifespan	6 years with breeding typically at 2 year
Adult Survival	0.772±0.034   ( Female: 0.772±0.034)

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	G (breeding females F)
Field Codes	2-letter: GN | 5-letter code: GOLDE | Euring: 2180

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Causes of change

The drivers behind the initial colonisation of Scotland are unclear but the subsequent increases may have been aided by the provision of nest boxes within its core range in Scotland (Dennis & Dow 1984). Predation by Pine Martens has been identified as the most important factor affecting breeding success (Langridge 1996) and there are also concerns about the possible impact of the expanding non-native Mandarin Duck population through competition for nest sites (Cosgrove 2003). There is currently no evidence of any negative impact on the population from these or other factors although the population trend has not been monitored since 2010.