The male has a green-black head with a round white spot, while the female's head is brown. In North America, it breeds by northern forest lakes and winters on lakes and coasts.
The adult male has a green-black head and a round white spot near the bill. The female has a brown head and a gray body.
Common goldeneyes nesting in tree cavities have predators that seek their eggs. In Norway, climbing pine martens raid nests. Records showing higher predation at longer-established nest boxes suggest that predators may remember nest locations.
A 2023 study analysed records collected in southeastern Norway between 1972 and 2020. Researchers assessed the outcomes of 509 nesting attempts in 181 boxes used by common goldeneyes. They classified 173 attempts as predated from signs such as down remaining after eggs had disappeared or broken eggs. Marten hairs, scats or claw marks were found in some cases.
Predation probability increased with the number of breeding seasons since a box had been installed. The authors interpreted this as martens remembering boxes they had found and visiting them in later years. A long-lasting nesting place for the duck may therefore also become a remembered feeding opportunity for a predator.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
At Scotland’s Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve, goldeneye nest boxes have been installed and breeding and box use are recorded annually. From June 2021, water users were asked to stay off Loch Kinord to reduce disturbance to nesting birds. NatureScot’s 2024 review reports 31 goldeneyes fledging from seven broods in 2023. This is an example of providing nest sites and maintaining quieter breeding habitat.