Striking diving duck of coastal harbors, mountain lakes, and large rivers. Males are black-and-white with a white crescent in front of the eye. Females are gray with brown head and orangey bill. Similar to Common Goldeneye; male Barrow's shows more black on back with a downward-pointing spur on side. White patch on face is circular on Common Goldeneye. Females more difficult to distinguish, but female Common have a pink-tipped bill and more triangular head shape (opposed to elongated oval of Barrow's). Nests in tree cavities. Scarcer on East Coast of U.S.