Bird of the Month | December 2025
Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola
Bufflehead, Juanita Bay Park, Washington. Photo by Mick Thompson
TAKE A PEAK AT OUR SHY WINTER VISITOR
One of the smallest diving ducks in North America, the bufflehead gets its name from “buffalo head,” thanks to the male’s odd, puffy-looking head. Our winter resident favors sheltered bays and estuaries, but you might also spot them swimming and diving in lakes, ponds, or slow-moving rivers. Here they'll feast on mollusks, particularly snails.
Unlike many of their duck relatives, buffleheads aren't very sociable. Instead of gathering in large flocks, they tend to show up in pairs or small groups.
And if you catch a glimpse of a male, take a moment to admire him! His head plumage is accented with green and purple iridescence in the right light.
