Barrow's Goldeneye (pair)

Distinguished from the closely related common goldeneye with males of Barrow's having a teardrop shaped white patch in front of the eyes and the commons having a circular patch. Additionally, male Barrow's have a purplish sheen on their heads rather than green and a different pattern of white on their closed wings. Female Barrow's often have a fully yellow bill as opposed to most commons, which have only a yellow tip. In the occasional female common without a yellow tip, the Barrow's can be told apart with its steeper forehead. Comparison picture in second shot, where female common goldeneye is swimming in the foreground.