A diving duck with a pronounced sexual dimorphism: the male has a black head with a green sheen with a round white decorating spot between the eye and beak, the neck and chest are white, the back and tail are black, the female has the head and neck of a chocolate-brown color, separates them from the gray breast bright white collar.
Spread. Migratory and nomadic species, represented by two subspecies, common in Eurasia and North America. In Europe, it is distributed sporadically. It winters in the south of the range up to the Mediterranean basin. Regularly spends the winter in Italy, every year there are 2-3 thousand individuals.
Habitat. Breeds in wooded areas near lakes and large rivers, winters along sea coasts or in inland fresh water bodies.
Biology. In May and April, as a rule, 8–11 eggs are laid, which the female incubates for 29 days. Chicks remain in the nest for one or two days, begin to fly at 8-9 weeks of age. In a year one laying. Keeps a few groups. The flight is fast and direct, takes off after a short run on the water, the rapid flap of the wings produces a characteristic whistling sound. The ration is based on animal food, which Gogol produces, diving to a depth of several meters. The voice is sharp, nasal.
Interesting fact. The nest is arranged in tree hollows, artificial tree houses and burrows of rabbits. The male arranges the characteristic marriage demonstrations, throwing his head and neck back.
Related species. Icelandic Gogol (Bucephala islandica) has a smaller size, breeds in Iceland and America, in Italy it was not noted (in Russia there are fly-ins). Little scraps (Mergus [Mergellus] albellus) nests in northern Eurasia, several dozen individuals spend the winter in Italy.
Common Gogol (Bucephala clangula)
