About the Bufflehead
The bufflehead is a small sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. It breeds in Alaska and Canada and migrates in winter to southern North America. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae as Anas albeola.
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ID tip
The bufflehead ranges from 32–40 cm (13–16 in) long and weighs 270–550 g (9.5–19.4 oz), with the drakes larger than the females. Averaging 35.5 cm (14.0 in) and 370 g (13 oz), it rivals the green-winged teal as the smallest American duck. The bufflehead has a wingspan of 21.6 in (55 cm). Adult males are striking black and white, with iridescent green and purple heads and a large white patch behind the eye. Females are grey-toned with a smaller white patch behind the eye and a light underside.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Sweden, Norway, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Cuba, South Korea, St. Martin, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Russia.
When to see it
Peak activity in January · a winter visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaAdult males range from 45–51 cm (18–20 in) and weigh approximately 1,000 g (2.2 lb), while females range from 40–50 cm (16–20 in) and weigh approximately 800 g (1.8 lb).
Barrow's GoldeneyeBucephala islandicaAdults are similar in appearance to the common goldeneye.
Side by side: Bufflehead vs Common Goldeneye · Barrow's Goldeneye vs Bufflehead
Learn the Bufflehead for real
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