Habitat
Nests usually near ponds, lakes, or rivers, but may nest in woodlands up to a mile from water (NatureServe 2007b). Both coniferous and deciduous trees are used for nesting and birds typically prefer lakes with clear water that lack emergent or submerged vegetation (Nummi and Pöysä 1993, Wayland and McNicol 1994). In B.C., breeds from 180 to 1,550 m elevation (Campbell et al. 1990).
References
Campbell, R. W., N. K. Dawe, I. McTaggart-Cowan, J. M. Cooper, G. W. Kaiser, and M. C. E. McNall. 1990. The Birds of British Columbia. Vol. 1 and 2, Nonpasserines. UBC Press, Vancouver, B.C.
NatureServe. 2007b. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 6.2. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer.

Nummi, P. and H. Pöysä. 1993. Habitat associations of ducks during different phases of the breeding season. Ecography 16: 319-328.
Wayland, M. and D. K. McNicol. 1994. Movements and survival of Common Goldeneye broods near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Can. J. Zool. 72: 1252-1259.

