Bufflehead

Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

A small diving duck with a rounded head and short bill.

Bufflehead male swimming with its large white head patch visible.

Three Identification Clues

01 · FIELD MARK

Males have a large white patch wrapping around the back of the head.

02 · FIELD MARK

Male white flanks contrast with a dark back and iridescent dark head.

03 · FIELD MARK

Females and young males are darker overall with a smaller white cheek patch.

Identification reference: Cornell Lab of Ornithology ↗

Field Photographs

Bufflehead male swimming with its large white head patch visible.
Bufflehead male swimming with its large white head patch visible.
Bufflehead male swimming.
Bufflehead male swimming.
Bufflehead male and a darker bird swimming together.
Bufflehead male and a darker bird swimming together.
Bufflehead three birds swimming with small white cheek patches.
Bufflehead three birds swimming with small white cheek patches.
Bufflehead male swimming.
Bufflehead male swimming.
Bufflehead group of males and darker birds swimming.
Bufflehead group of males and darker birds swimming.
Bufflehead pair swimming with small white cheek patches.
Bufflehead pair swimming with small white cheek patches.
Bufflehead pair swimming with small white cheek patches.
Bufflehead pair swimming with small white cheek patches.

Range & Sightings

Seasonal Range

Explore breeding, migration, and wintering areas.

View Range Map ↗

Recorded Observations

Explore sightings on iNaturalist. Observation records are not a complete range map.

iNaturalist observation map ↗

Keep Learning

Compare several photographs, then listen to recordings to connect appearance with voice.

Cornell · Identification ↗Cornell · Life history ↗Cornell · Songs and calls ↗