The male Common Goldeneye adds a bright note to winter days with its radiant amber eye, glistening green-black head, and crisp black-and-white body and wings. The main differentiating factor between the two birds is the white cheek patch found on the drakes of both species. According to the U.S. Photo by Donald M. Jones Get the most from today's golden­eye boom. I find it best to flash sear… Second any fishiness that is present is masked with the … Duck should have been cut into 1 inch cubes, and soaked in a weak brine for 24 hours, then in clean water for 2 more days, changing water as it turns color. Turn the oven up to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and turn the duck over, roast for 30 mins and then rest for 10 mins. Directions. How to Roast a Whole Duck Enjoy duck for any occasion with this easy recipe for roasting a whole duck. Combine 2 cups of water with 1/2 cup kosher salt in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, while stirring, until the salt is dissolved. They tend not to mix freely with other waterfowl. (Note – meat/fat grinds best when partially frozen for 30 minutes) When the duck is cooked the leg joints should feel loose when wiggled, if they don’t, then cook it for a little longer. It is one of the more common diver ducks found across North America, unlike its close relative the elusive Barrow’s Goldeneye. When feeding, all the birds in one section of a flock may dive at the same time. According to the U.S. Frequent goldeneyes fly in small compact clusters, with their wings making a particular whistle at each wing beat. As a result the natural sweetness of the duck becomes sweeter. A common goldeneye can live to be at least 20 years old. The Common Goldeneye, is a medium sized duck of the diving duck classification. This is by far the more numerous of the two goldeneye species, often seen in small flocks, sometimes in large concentrations. The trick for seaducks, as with any duck is not to over cook it. The common goldeneye is easily confused with its cousin the Barrow’s goldeneye. 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. 1) Grind all meats/fat using medium plate on grinder. Roast for 50 minutes. I have eaten a lot of ducks in my life. take the breasts boil with cubed apple and onion for two hrs,remove breasts and rub them down with stick of butter,then pan sear in olive oil. Ducks should be almost dripping with blood. Photo by Donald M. Jones Get the most from today's golden­eye boom. Stuff it with onions, celery and roast in a hot oven. First when you cook it, the marinade caramelizes. There is 1 brood a year. Common Goldeneye duck. A day after hatching, the ducklings — beckoned by their mother, positioned perhaps 40 feet below them on the ground — hop out of the nest cavity and fall to the ground, then join the mother in swimming and foraging. If you want dry, liver tasting meat, just over cook your ducks! Place duck, breast side up, on rack in pan. Roast the duck for 3 hrs, pricking again every now and then. These distinctively shaped, large-headed ducks dive for their food, eating mostly aquatic invertebrates and fish. The female has a chocolate brown head with the same bright eye that gives this species its name. The method includes boiling the duck for 10 minutes to help render out the fat, which creates crispy skin and moist meat. In the air, the drake and hen goldeneye both look much whiter than most ducks, with a white breast and a large white patch on the wing. Remove pan from oven. It also gave me the opportunity to become a duck snob, of sorts. Set duck on rack in a sink or over a towel to catch drips. When on the water, look for the male’s dark green-glossed head and white round cheek patch. Many people claim that the only way to cook gold eye is to season it and broil it for 10 minutes on each side, basting it liberally with butter. Common Description: The Common goldeneye duck just like the Barrow’s goldeneye, is called for its good yellow iris. I was shooting 40-50 ducks a year and that gave me a lot of duck to work with. Fast in flight, their wings make a whistling sound, earning them the hunters' name of "Whistler." Barrow's goldeneyes breed in southeastern Alaska, northern Mackenzie and northwestern British Columbia, south to eastern Washington, southwestern Oregon, eastern California, the Colorado Rockies, Quebec, Labrador, Greenland and Iceland. About the Barrows Goldeneye Breeding. There were a couple of years there in the late 90's when I pretty much survived on duck. Meat should all have turned from a deep purple to pale pink/grey.