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Identification of Bufflehead

Sam Crowe
Updated: March 17, 2023
Identification of Sea Ducks
Male Bufflehead

Bufflehead  –  Length: 13 inches Wing span: 21 inches

Buffleheads are our smallest duck and one of the easiest to identify.

The Buffleheads seen in winter over much of the U.S. actually nest in the boreal forests of Canada, using cavities in trees as their nest sites. Unlike many ducks which lay one egg each day, Buffleheads can take up to 3 days between each egg laid.

Young Buffleheads spend only about one day in the nest. When it is time to fledge, they each jump out of the nest in turn and tumble to the ground. The female then leads them to the nearest water.

Female Bufflehead

Females are small gray to black ducks with an oval white cheek patch. Small bill and may show a “stiff tail” similar to Ruddy Duck. High forehead. Photograph © Alan Wilson.

Bufflehead male

The rainbow head is gorgeous when seen in good light.  Pure white chest and flanks.  First year males are similar to females. Photograph © Glenn Bartley.

Bufflehead male

Note the shape of the tail.  Photograph © Alan Wilson.

Bufflehead male in flight

In flight, a black band down extends down the center of the back, bordered by white on each side. Photograph © Glenn Bartley.

Bufflehead male in flight wings down

Large white wing bar on the top of the wing.  Photograph © Glenn Bartley.

Female Bufflehead side view

Note the stiff, pointed tail.  Back is darker than the gray flanks and chest.  Photograph © Alan Wilson.

Female Bufflehead side view

The stiff tail is down in this photograph. Photograph © Alan Wilson.

Bufflehead female in flight

Female in flight.  The white cheek mark becomes crescent shaped.   Photograph © Glenn Bartley.

Bufflehead female in flight

The white belly contrasts with darker gray neck and even darker head.  Photograph © Glenn Bartley.

Buffleheads in flight

Females (left) are much grayer than the males and lack the strong white wing patches of the males. Photograph © Glenn Bartley.

Buffleheads in flight

Buffleheads are easy to identify, even at a distance.  See if you can pick out the females.  Photograph © Glenn Bartley.

About the Author

Sam Crowe
Sam is the founder of Birdzilla.com. He has been birding for over 30 years and has a world list of over 2000 species. He has served as treasurer of the Texas Ornithological Society, Sanctuary Chair of Dallas Audubon, Editor of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "All About Birds" web site and as a contributing editor for Birding Business magazine. Many of his photographs and videos can be found on the site.

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