From Opus

Photo by Forcreeks
Breeding Male
Location: Marina Del Rey, California.

Bucephala albeola

[edit] Identification

32-40 cm. Male - white body, black back, greenish-black head, white cap. Female - brown body, paler underparts, brown head, white patch behind eye.

[edit] Distribution

United States, Alaska and Canada.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Small ponds and lakes with surrounding woodland. Winters on small ponds, lakes, and rivers inland, also in shallow bays and estuaries along the coasts.

[edit] Behaviour

They nest in tree cavities, and 5-10 eggs are laid and are incubated for 28-33 days; the young fledge at 45-55 days.

The diet includes crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic plants and fish eggs. It feeds by submerging and obtaining food underwater.

[edit] References

South Dakota Birds and Birding

[edit] External Links