Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Bucephala

Audio for Species

Call
Call

from Macaulay Library

Species Related Links

Additional Bufflehead Pictures

Description

Length: 7.1-10.2 in (18-26 cm) Weight: 1.4-3.4 oz (40-95 g) Wingspan: 13-16.1 in (33-41 cm)

The smallest diving duck in North America. The male head is dark shimmering violet to green (breeding plumage) with a large white patch covering the back of the head. The back is black and the under parts are white. The wings have a white patch, that includes secondaries and coverts. The nonbreeding plumage for the male the head doesn't shimmer and the white patch on the back of the head does not extend around the back of the head. The female has mostly an umber head and upperparts, with the underparts being twilight gray. The head has a small white ear patch.

Habitat, Range, and Feeding

The breeding habitat is along freshwater ponds and small lakes, and in forests inhabited by Northern Flickers. They winter in shallow saltwater, or in lakes and rivers. They are cavity nesters, lined with down from the chest of the female. The trees used are mostly poplar, aspen, or fir, and pine tress are used in California, all of which have been excavated by Norther Flickers and Pileated Woodpeckers. Nest sites are reused for several years, expecially if there was a successful clutch hatching the year before. The clutch size is 4 to 17 eggs, that are cream or raw sienna. Buffleheads are mostly monogamous, remaining with the same mate for several years.

Their diet is mostly aquatic invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, molluscs) and some seeds.