The bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is a small sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae as Anas albeola. The genus name of this species is derived from ancient Greek and refers to the oddly bulbous head shape of the bird. The English name is a combination of buffalo and head, again referring to the head shape. This is most noticeable when the male puffs out the feathers on the head, thus greatly increasing the apparent size of the head.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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MolluscivoreA molluscivore is a carnivorous animal that specializes in feeding on molluscs such as gastropods, bivalves, brachiopods, and cephalopods. Known mo...
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AquaticAn aquatic animal is an animal, either vertebrate or invertebrate, which lives in water for most or all of its life. It may breathe air or extract ...
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SeabirdSeabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that are adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, b...
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WaterfowlWaterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans. They ...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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NatatorialNatatorial animals are those adapted for swimming. Some fish use their pectoral fins as the primary means of locomotion, sometimes termed labriform...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withAdult males of this species are striking black and white, with iridescent green and purple heads and a large white patch behind the eye. Females are grey-toned with a smaller white patch behind the eye and a light underside. Averaging 35.5 cm (14.0 in) and 370 g (13 oz), the bufflehead rivals the Green-winged teal as the smallest American duck.
Buffleheads breed in Alaska and Canada and spend the winter on the east and west coasts of North America and the southern United States. Their breeding habitat is wooded lakes and ponds, almost entirely included in the boreal forest or taiga habitat. On their wintering grounds, these ducks are usually found in protected coastal waters, or open inland waters.
Buffleheads spend all their life in water and only females can be seen on land when they lead their newly hatched ducklings from the nest to the water. They are diurnal birds spending the day swimming, feeding, preening, and sleeping. Due to their small size, buffleheads are highly active, undertaking dives almost continuously while sustained by their high metabolism. They do not tend to collect in large flocks; groups are usually limited to small numbers. One duck serves as a sentry, watching for predators as the others in the group dive in search of food. They prefer water depths of 1.2-4.5 m (3.9-14.8 ft) and can remain under the water for 12-20 seconds. Buffleheads are amongst the last waterfowl to leave their breeding grounds and one of the world's most punctual migrants, arriving on their wintering grounds within a narrow margin of time.
Buffleheads are mainly carnivores. In freshwater habitats, they eat primarily insects, and in saltwater, they feed predominantly on crustaceans and mollusks. Aquatic plants and fish eggs can often become locally important food items, as well.
Buffleheads are monogamous and form pairs that remain together for many years. They breed from late winter until early April. The females may return to the same nest site, year after year. They nest in cavities in trees, primarily aspens or poplars, using mostly old flicker nests, close to water. The average clutch size is 6 to 11 eggs and incubation averages 30 days. During the incubation period, the males leave their mates in order to molt. A day after the last duckling hatches, the brood leaps from the nest cavity, and the female leads them to water. The young typically fledge at 50-55 days of age.
Habitat degradation is the major threat to these beautiful ducks since they depend on very limited coastal habitats on their wintering grounds and very specific habitats on their boreal breeding grounds. Although buffleheads do use man-made nest boxes, they still need the forest habitat to thrive.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the bufflehead is above 1,200,000 individuals. Its population in Japan includes below 50 wintering individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are increasing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...