Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

✨ Shiny — winter rarity
Winter only — roughly November through March✨ Shiny — winter rarity

The take

The little black-and-white duck that vanishes mid-look — it dives more than it floats.

How to ID it

  • Male has a big white patch wrapping the back of a dark iridescent head
  • Female gray-brown with a single oval white cheek patch
  • Very small compact duck that dives constantly and flies with fast wingbeats

Field marks at a glance

Size
large
Head
dark glossy head with large white rear patch (male)
Call
mostly silent in winter

Where & when

Winter only — roughly November through March — best odds at latta nature preserve.

Learn more

Sources