Goldeneye | |
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Common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Anseriformes |
Family: | Anatidae |
Subfamily: | Merginae |
Genus: |
Bucephala S.F. Baird, 1858 |
Species | |
Synonyms | |
Charitonetta |
Bucephala albeola
Bucephala clangula
Bucephala islandica
Charitonetta
and see text
Bucephala is a genus of ducks found in the Northern Hemisphere. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek boukephalos, "bullheaded", from bous "bull", and kephale, "head", a reference to the crest of the bufflehead making its head look large.
The bufflehead was formerly separated in its own genus Charitonetta, while the goldeneyes proper were mistakenly placed in Clangula (as Clangula americana), the genus of the long-tailed duck, which at that time was placed in Harelda.
The three living species are: