Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

33-38 cm (13-15") Fairly common. Lakes, bays, ponds, rivers. Smallest duck in North America; Pigeon-sized. Unlike other diving ducks, this one may take off without running along the water surface.

Male: large, round, greenish-purple head with a large white patch from behind eye to back of head; short bill; white breast and sides; black back. In flight, white patch on dark head; white patch across back and wings.

Female: all dark grayish-brown with an elongated white dash behind eye; short bill. In flight, white patch on dark head; whitish below; small white patch at base of upper wing.

Song: hoarse whistle, soft quacks.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Kevin Cole

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Bufflehead Courtship Display

Credit: Stephanie Owen

Bufflehead on Crex

Credit: mnwindchill

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Bufflehead (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 4

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:760-bufflehead-female:1:1 Source: 760 Bufflehead (Female), row 1

Bufflehead (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 4

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Green · Blue · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Green · Blue · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:759-bufflehead-male:1:1 Source: 759 Bufflehead (Male), row 1