- Bucephala albeola
Identification
32-40 cm (12½-15¾ in)
Male
- Glossy black head (can look blue, green or purple depending on the light) with large white patch
- Black back
- White breast, stomach, and flanks
- Bluish bill
Female
- Brown body
- Paler underparts
- Brown head
- White patch behind eye
Males acquire a female-like "eclipse" plumage in the summer.
Distribution
United States, Alaska and Canada. Winters to Mexico and Greater Antilles
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
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.
Behaviour
Breeding
They nest in tree cavities. The 5-10 eggs are incubated for 28-33 days; the young fledge at 45-55 days.
Diet
The diet includes crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic plants and fish eggs. It feeds by submerging and obtaining food underwater.
Vocalisation
Males give a loud grating or chattering noise. Females have a loud, rapid, guttural call.
Movements
This is a migratory species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- South Dakota Birds and Birding
- Gauthier, G. (2020). Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.buffle.01
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Bufflehead. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Bufflehead
