Goldeneye
Common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Subfamily: Merginae
Genus: Bucephala
S.F. Baird, 1858
Type species
Anas albeola (bufflehead)
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

Bucephala albeola
Bucephala clangula
Bucephala islandica

Synonyms

Glaucionetta
Charitonetta
see text

Bucephala is a genus of diving ducks found in the Northern Hemisphere.

Taxonomy

The genus Bucephala was introduced in 1858 by American naturalist Spencer Baird with the bufflehead as the type species.[1][2] The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek boukephalos, meaning "bullheaded", from bous "bull", and kephale, "head", a reference to the crest of the bufflehead making its head look large.[3]

The bufflehead was formerly treated as the only member of the genus (sometimes unnecessarily changed to Charitonetta) while the goldeneyes were incorrectly placed in Clangula (as Clangula americana), the genus of the long-tailed duck, which at that time was placed in Harelda.[4] It may yet be correct to recognise two genera, as the bufflehead and the two goldeneyes are well diverged. In this case, Bucephala would be restricted to B. albeola and the name Glaucionetta (Stejneger, 1885) resurrected for the goldeneyes.

Species

The three living species are:[5]

Male Female Scientific name Common name Distribution
Bucephala clangula Common goldeneye Widespread in North America and Eurasia
Bucephala islandica Barrow's goldeneye North America and Iceland
Bucephala albeola Bufflehead North America south to Mexico
Goldeneye

Known fossil taxa are:

References

  1. ^ Baird, Spencer F. (1858). Reports of explorations and surveys to ascertain the most practical and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean made under the direction of the secretary of war in 1853-1856. Vol. 9 Birds. Washington: Beverly Tucker, printer. pp. xxiii, L, 788, 795.
  2. ^ Mayr, Ernst; Cottrell, G. William, eds. (1979). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 594.
  3. ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  4. ^ Report of the National conference on utilization of forest products. New national museum, Washington, DC, November 19 and 20, 1924. Issue 13. US Govt. print. off. 1925.
  5. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2022). "Screamers, ducks, geese & swans". IOC World Bird List Version 12.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 4 July 2022.

External links

Genera of waterfowl and their extinct allies
Taxon identifiers
Authority control databases: National
Categories