Bucephala albeola
The Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), a diminutive and charismatic diving duck, is a beloved sight on North American waters. Males are unmistakable with their striking pied plumage: a glossy purple-green-black head featuring a prominent wedge-shaped white patch behind the eye, a pristine white body, and black back. Females are more subtly elegant, displaying a dark grayish-brown head with a distinct white cheek patch, a dark back, and white flanks. Averaging 32-39 cm (12.5-15.5 in) in length wi...
Buffleheads inhabit freshwater wetlands, particularly small lakes and ponds within boreal forests during breeding, and transition to sheltered coastal estuaries, bays, and larger inland lakes during winter.
Primarily carnivorous, their diet consists mainly of aquatic insects (larvae, pupae), crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish, which they procure by agile diving. Plant matter forms a minor component.
Buffleheads are primarily diurnal, spending much of their day diving for food. Their foraging strategy involves swift, short dives, often lasting 10-20 seconds, propelled by powerful kicks of their large, webbed feet. During the breeding season, males establish and defend small territories around...
The Bufflehead's breeding range spans the boreal forest regions of Alaska, much of Canada, and extends south into parts of the northwestern United States, including Montana, Idaho, and Washington. They exhibit a widespread wintering distribution across the United States, stretching from the Pacif...
Least Concern
- The Bufflehead is the smallest diving duck in North America, often affectionately called a "butterball" due to its plump appearance. - They are obligate cavity nesters, relying almost exclusively on old tree cavities, especially those excavated by Northern Flickers, which are often found high i...