Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica), Surprise Community Park, Maricopa County

This Barrow's Goldeneye was found by Brian Johnson on 30 January 2016 and photographed by Robert Bowker on 01 February 2016

Seemingly injured bird tangled with fishing line.

Casual in winter away from the Colorado River where it still occurs primairly below Glen Canyon Dam and in the Bill Williams Arm of Lake Havasu. This may only be a third Maricopa County record.

Identification of female goldeneyes can be difficult. Like most bird species, it is helpful to age an individual first, which we can do here. The bird is an immature because of the dull eye color and lack of black tips to most of the greater coverts. Features to note include the rounded head with a steep forehead, flat top and "mane", deeper bill base giving it a stouter and stubbier look with a rounded lower edge and raised nail, and the yellow tipped bill that extends past the nares and along the lower manidble (hard to see in these photos). Bill coloration is variable in both species of goldeneye and some may not show the "classic look". This is especially true of immatures which may not get full yellow bills until February and is why multiple features are often needed for a potentially out of range Barrow's Goldeneye. See also this article by David Sibley for more information on identification.

01 February 2016, photo by robert bowker