Bufflehead Photo Gallery

Male

Small duck with large head and short bill. Large white patch on head, dark back, and white chest and flanks are visible from long distances. Purple-green iridescence on head can be hard to see.

Female

Small brownish duck with large, rounded head and a distinctive, single white patch on the cheek.

Breeding male

Buffleheads forage for aquatic insects, crustaceans, and molluscs by diving staying submerged for about 13 seconds and consuming prey underwater.

Male

Small duck with distinctive flight pattern: dark upperparts crossed by white stripes at the shoulder and in the wings.

Immature male

Small duck with large head and single white cheek patch.

Breeding male and females

Usually forms small to medium-sized flocks during the nonbreeding season.

Female

Small brownish duck with large, rounded head and a distinctive, single white patch on the cheek.

Female

May occur in flocks. Female lacks male's large white wingstripe, but has a smaller white wing patch sometimes visible at rest.

Breeding male and female

Buffleheads require a running start when taking flight off water, but can achieve this over a shorter distance than most other duck species due to their small size.

Male

In flight, note male's white head patch, wing patches, and underparts contrasting with black upperparts and outer wings.

Flock

Small duck with fast wingbeats. In flight, female lacks male's shoulder stripes and large white wing stripe, but has a smaller white wing patch sometimes visible at rest.

Breeding male

Buffleheads perform self-maintenance activities on the water such as preening, stretching, and bathing.

Female and chick

Male departs breeding site during incubation in order to molt, leaving female alone to raise young.

Habitat

Fairly common on lakes, ponds, and coastal waters.