This breed got its name from Sir John Barrow who promoted missions to the Arctic and helped more ornithologists become aware of this beautiful duck. The difference between the males of the common goldeneye and Barrow’s Goldeneye is that the former has a round white patch on the face, less black on the back of the bird, and a larger bill. The common goldeneye female has a less rounded head and a bill which is yellow at the tip. Barrow’s goldeneye males have a dark head with a purplish or bluish shine and a white crescent at the front of the face. Adult females have a mostly yellow bill.

The PECk-O-MATIC Automatic Duck Feeder helps combat the wastage of feed that used to happen with traditional feeding methods. The system works on a ‘feed on demand’ basis, which releases small quantities of grain/pellets at a time. If feeding corn, the3/4inch or 1-inch regulator disc can be used. The 3/8-inch regulator disc from PECk-O-MATIC Automatic Duck Feeder can be used when the feed is crumble or milo.

Barrow's goldeneyes are diving birds. They forage under water and feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans, small fish, fish eggs and pond vegetation. Gammarus oceanicus and Calliopus laeviusculus, which are marine crustaceans, are the staple diet of these ducks. They also feed on mussels and gastropods.

Barrow’s goldeneyes are called “whistlers” because of their distinctive wing-whistling sound while in flight. They have three distinct migration periods in spring, summer and winter. In spring, they move from wintering to breeding grounds, in summer, the males move to moulting areas and in fall, they migrate from the staging grounds to wintering areas.