Bufflehead


	Bufflehead
	Bucephala albeola

The smallest diving duck in North America, the Bufflehead breeds in ponds and small lakes in Canada, and winters in much of the United States. It nests in tree cavities as well as in nest boxes.

Interesting Information

The Bufflehead nests almost exclusively in holes excavated by Northern Flickers and, on occasion, by Pileated Woodpeckers.
Unlike most ducks, the Bufflehead is mostly monogamous, often remaining with the same mate for several years.
The Bufflehead lays eggs more slowly than most other ducks, commonly with intervals of two or three days between eggs.

Description

Adult Description

Size: 32-40 cm (13-16 in)
Wingspan: 55 cm (22 in)
Weight: 272-635 g (9.6-22.42 ounces)
Small diving duck.
Black-and-white.
Small gray bill.
White patch on side of head.
Rounded head.
Dark back.
White patch in wings visible in flight.
Eyes dark brown.

Sex Differences

Male with white sides, black back and head, and large white patch on head. Female duller and darker, with gray sides and small white patch on head.

Male

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage

Head glossy dark purple-green with large white patch covering the entire back of the head. Black back, white underparts. Wings have a large white patch, including secondaries and coverts.

Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage

Head not glossy, large white ear patch does not extend around back of head.

Female

Mostly dark, with dark brown head and upperparts; underparts dusky gray. Face has a small white patch in ear area.

Immature

Similar to adult female, with less distinct ear patch.

Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide by David Allen Sibley

Habitat

Breeds along freshwater ponds and small lakes, and in forests inhabited by Northern Flickers. Winters in shallow saltwater, or in lakes and rivers.
Aspens and poplars are important sites for nest cavities.

Behavior

Dives for prey and swallows food underwater.

Food

Insects, crustaceans, and mollusks, as well as some seeds.

Taxonomy

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Subfamily:	Anatinae
Genus:	Bucephala
Species:	Bucephala albeola

Similar Species

Male Hooded Merganser has a large white patch on head, but has brown sides.
Female Common and Barrow's goldeneyes have no white on the face; male goldeneyes have white patches in front of eye, not in back.
Male Ruddy Duck's white cheek patch is larger, extending to bill; female Ruddy Duck shows a dark line separating whitish areas on face.

Bird Sound

Usually silent. Courtship display includes guttural chattering. Male may give squeal or growl in late winter or spring; females give a throaty cluck when seeking nests in summer.

Eggs look like this

Photo taken from: MICHAEL QUINTON/ MINDEN PICTURES/National Geographic Creative

Videos

Bufflehead

Male and Female Preening

	Sources Used To Construct This Page
	Bellrose, F. C. 1976. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA. Gauthier, Gilles. 1993. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola). In The Birds of North America, No. 67 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

	All photos and videos © Rick Swartzentrover - Free for non-profit use.