The breeding range of the Barrow's Goldeneye in eastern North America

The breeding range of Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) is largely r estricted to northwestern North America, and little is known of the small p opulation that winters in eastern Canada. Based on weak evidence, this east ern population was thought to nest mainly in northern Labrador. Our May 199 0 to 1998 surveys identified a breeding area in the forest regions of the Q uebec Laurentian Highlands. We observed Barrow's Goldeneyes on 137 lakes an d 5 rivers, of which 95.2% were along the north shore of the St. Lawrence e stuary and gulf. The species was found mainly on small lakes (less than or equal to 10 ha) at greater than 500 m elevation. Most occupied lakes (96.5% ) were within 100 km of the St. Lawrence River and 48.9% of them were headw ater lakes. Four broods observed in 1998 represent the first eastern North American documentation of breeding. By means of satellite telemetry, 5 of 7 males captured on the wintering grounds were relocated on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in May, 60-140 km inland from the estuary and gul f. Each male spent 34-50 days at its respective site, presumably with a mat e. The north shore of the estuary and gulf may be the core breeding area fo r Barrow's Goldeneyes wintering along the St. Lawrence River.