Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola

Buffleheads are one of my all-time favorite ducks. It was one of the first ducks (besides Mallards) that I learned to identify. They are a North American bird. They breed in Canada and Alaska and winter mostly in the U.S.

The males are easily recognizable with the greenish-black heads with the white cap. The females have a white patch behind the eye and a brown head. Buffleheads are divers and will forage underwater. They eat insects, crustaceans, plants, and fish eggs. Buffleheads winter in the S.F. Bay Area.

Breeding (Oct-May)

Male 01/09/2008 - Lake Merritt, Oakland, CA Male 01/09/2008 - Lake Merritt, Oakland, CA	Female 01/14/2009 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA Female 01/14/2009 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA	Female 01/14/2009 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA Female 01/14/2009 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA
Males 01/27/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA Males 01/27/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	Two Males and one female 01/27/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA Two Males and one female 01/27/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	Female with more white than usual 02/14/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA Female with more white than usual 02/14/2009 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
Male mounting female 03/17/2015 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA Male mounting female 03/17/2015 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA	Male 12/03/2006 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA Male 12/03/2006 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA

Top of Page