Birds diurnal

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

Meet North America’s smallest diving duck, a tiny dynamo of the waterways known for its striking tuxedo plumage and lightning-fast dives. The Bufflehead is a winter favorite for backyard pond owners and coastal birders alike.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 32–40 cm (13–16 in); Wingspan: 55 cm (21.6 in); Weight: 270–550 g (9.5–19.4 oz)

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Colors

Males are striking with a black back, snow-white body, and a large white 'pie wedge' on an iridescent green-and-purple head. Females are drabber sooty-gray with a distinct white oval cheek patch.

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Key Features

Smallest diving duck in North America
Bulbous, oversized head relative to body
Male has a massive white patch from eye to back of head
Female has a small, horizontal white cheek streak
Dives frequently and pops up like a cork

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

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Season November through March

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Diet Insects, crustaceans, and mollusks caught by diving; they also consume some aquatic seeds in the fall.

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Habitat Breeds near small lakes in boreal forests; winters on sheltered coastal bays, estuaries, and inland ponds.

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Behavior

Buffleheads are high-energy diving ducks that seem to be in constant motion. They spend much of their day foraging, disappearing underwater for up to 25 seconds to hunt for aquatic invertebrates. Unlike many larger ducks that require a long running start on the water to take flight, Buffleheads can spring directly into the air, a capability that helps them escape predators quickly.

These ducks are remarkably social during the winter and are usually found in small, tight-knit groups. They are unique among sea ducks for being obligate cavity nesters, meaning they almost exclusively use old nest holes made by Northern Flickers. They are also highly monogamous, often returning to the same mate and even the same nesting tree for several consecutive years.

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Camera Tips

Capturing high-quality footage of Buffleheads requires a low-profile setup. Because these ducks sit very low in the water and are quite small, a camera mounted on a standard tripod or fence post will often result in a 'top-down' perspective that loses the bird's detail. Instead, use a ground stake or a low-profile waterproof housing positioned just 6-12 inches above the water level. Aim your lens toward calm coves or edges with submerged vegetation, as these are their primary foraging grounds.

Lighting is the biggest challenge when photographing Buffleheads. The male's white body and head patch are prone to 'overexposure' in bright midday sun, while the iridescent colors of the head only reveal themselves in soft, angled light. Set your camera to capture during the 'golden hours' of early morning or late afternoon. If your camera has manual exposure settings, underexpose slightly to ensure the white feathers retain their texture rather than appearing as a glowing white blur.

Speed is your second challenge. Buffleheads move fast and dive without warning. Use a high-speed trigger setting or a camera with a pre-roll feature that saves the few seconds of video before the motion was detected. Since they prefer quiet waters, placing your camera near a backyard pond that has been supplemented with an aerator or 'bubbler' in winter can be incredibly effective. The open water provided by the bubbler will attract them when surrounding lakes freeze over, providing consistent, predictable opportunities for your camera to trigger.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Bufflehead.

Hooded Merganser

Larger with a thin, serrated bill and cinnamon-colored sides; the white head patch is outlined in black.

Common Goldeneye

Much larger than a Bufflehead with a circular white spot in front of the eye rather than a large patch behind it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Buffleheads are most active during the daylight hours, with peaks in foraging activity shortly after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before dusk. They spend a significant portion of these windows diving for food.

To attract Buffleheads, you need a permanent pond or access to a waterway with plenty of submerged aquatic insects. In winter, using a pond heater or bubbler to maintain an area of open, ice-free water is the best way to draw them in.

Their diet consists mainly of aquatic invertebrates like dragonfly larvae, midges, and water boatmen in freshwater, and small snails, crabs, and shrimp when they move to saltwater in the winter.

Yes, they are quite common in suburban parks and residential ponds during the winter migration, provided the water is deep enough for diving and relatively free from heavy human or dog disturbance.

While both have white head patches, the Bufflehead is much smaller and has a short, grey bill. The Hooded Merganser has a long, thin, serrated bill and the male has distinct chestnut-colored flanks, whereas the Bufflehead male is pure white on the sides.

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