Common Goldeneyes are winter birds in Wyoming: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by early November, peak in mid November (12% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When to look
First arrivalsOct 8-14the second week of October
Common byNov 1-7early November
PeakNov 15-21mid November
Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April
Best: mid November. First arrivals the second week of October; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 12% of Wyoming checklists.
Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Mayuncommon
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Sepnot usually seen
Octuncommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season
Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.
Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Wyoming that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
0%few checklistsno data
Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.
National Elk RefugeTeton County, best late January · 25 checklists that week, 1,797 in all69%
Meeboer LakeAlbany County, best late March · 33 checklists that week, 300 in all57%
Saratoga LakeCarbon County, best late March · 21 checklists that week, 626 in all57%
Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.
Best time of day
In Wyoming, the Common Goldeneye is most often listed on checklists started between 1 and 3 pm (4.6% of those checklists).
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.Week-by-week table
Month
Days 1-7
8-14
15-21
22-end
January
9.9%
11%
9.3%
9.8%
February
9.1%
8.5%
9.2%
9.7%
March
10%
12%
12%
12%
April
9.5%
6.8%
4.9%
2.8%
May
1.6%
1.2%
0.6%
0.3%
June
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
July
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
August
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
September
0.1%
0.2%
0.1%
0.2%
October
1.2%
1.3%
1.2%
2.0%
November
6.3%
12%
13%
12%
December
11%
11%
8.5%
10%
Neighboring states
Colorado: arrives late October, 2 weeks later than Wyoming
Utah: arrives late October, 2 weeks later than Wyoming
Montana: arrives mid October, 1 week later than Wyoming
Idaho: arrives late October, 2 weeks later than Wyoming
Common questions
When do Common Goldeneyes arrive in Wyoming?
Common Goldeneyes are winter birds in Wyoming: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by early November, peak in mid November (12% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When do Common Goldeneyes leave Wyoming?
Most Common Goldeneyes have left Wyoming by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of May.
When is the best time to see a Common Goldeneye in Wyoming?
The Common Goldeneye is reported most often in mid November, on about 12% of Wyoming checklists.
Where in Wyoming are Common Goldeneyes seen most often?
By county, Hot Springs County, Sweetwater County, and Platte County have the highest peak reporting rates for the Common Goldeneye (counties with at least 200 checklists).
