Bufflehead
(Bucephala albeola)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
|
||||
| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
||||
| NatureServe | N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding SNRB - Unranked Breeding |
||||
| Minnesota | not listed |
||||
Description
The male has a large, white, wedge-shaped patch on the back of the head.
Size
Total length: 13″ to 5″
Wingspan: 21″
Voice
Usually silent. Female call is a low, rough, prrk prrk.
Similar Species
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) white crest is bordered with black.
Habitat
Open water of lakes, ponds, rivers
Ecology
Migration
Early March to mid-May and early October to early December
Nesting
Food
Distribution
Occurrence
Common migrant, very rare breeder
Maps
The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map
Taxonomy
Class
Aves (birds)
Order
Anseriformes (waterfowl)
Family
Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans)
Subfamily
Anatinae (dabbling ducks)
Genus
Bucephala (goldeneyes and bufflehead)
Subordinate Taxa
Synonyms
Anas albeola
Charitonetta albeola
Glaucionetta albeola
Visitor Photos
Share your photo of this bird.
This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
Ramona Abrego |
||
 |
 |
|
 |
||
Kathleen Coghill |
 |
In my backyard, sorry for the crummy quality. |
Ted Zempel |
 |
Wayne Rasmussen |
 |
Buffleheads spotted in Maplewood Hts Park in April of 2014 |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
|
|
Slideshows
Bufflehead
Ed McVicker
Bufflehead
JMC Nature Photos
Bufflehead
Joshua Mayer
Visitor Videos
Share your video of this bird.
This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
Other Videos
Buffleheads at Sachuest Point - November 30, 2013
Don Gagnon
Bufflehead (Anatidae: Bucephala albeola) Male and Female
Carl Barrentine
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
RÜZGAR YELİ
The Bufflehead Show
peasant1
Buffleheads
wetvideocamera
Visitor Sightings
Report a sighting of this bird.
This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
Eileen
3/24/2021
Location: Waconia
I see 5 this morning on the pond in Waconia.
Kathleen Coghill
4/21/2020
Location: Lino Lakes, MN
In my backyard, sorry for the crummy quality.
Bob Hefferan
4/13/2020
Location: Big Sauk Lake, Mn (south end).
Have seen at least 5 Bufflehead in the last couple of days.
Peter Provost
4/6/2020
(time: 5:00 pm)
Location: Pine Bend trailhead Main Pond NW- Inver Grove Heights
One mating pair diving in pond near a mating pair of Mallards
Deb Potz
4/5/2020
Location: Oak Grove, MN
Two males in pond out back. First time in the three years living here. Kept pretty far out, but still fun to watch frequent diving and resurfacing.
Ramona Abrego
5/10/2019
Location: Becker County
Ramona Abrego
5/7/2019
Location: Becker County
Ted Zempel
4/18/2019
Location: Linwood west of Stacy, MN
Andrew Mason
4/16/2019
Location: Blaine, MN
Christopher
4/30/2018
Location: Wyoming, MN
2 males and 2 females on the pond every evening since ice out.
Wayne Rasmussen
4/20/2014
Location: Maplewood Heights Park
Buffleheads spotted in Maplewood Hts Park in April of 2014
Dianne
4/2/2016
Location: North Long Lake, Merrifield MN
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
