All birds Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
Here November to March.
Look for
- Males have white sides and a round, puffy black head.
- The male's head has a white patch on it, like a scarf.
- Females have a gray head with a white spot on each side. Young males look like females, but their white spot is bigger.
A little about it
Buffleheads are winter ducks here. You can find them from November to March, and February has the most.
They dive under the water to find food. In a small group, they may all dive at the same time. On lakes and ponds they eat mostly water bugs. In winter they also eat lots of snails.
Buffleheads stay in pairs or small groups. They're almost never in big flocks. They take off from the water with ease and fly with fast wingbeats.
They nest in holes in trees. A Bufflehead is small enough to use an old hole made by a Northern Flicker. The nest is most often 2 to 10 feet up. The babies leave the nest 1 or 2 days after they hatch, and the mother leads them to water.
Fun fact
The name Bufflehead comes from "buffalo head." The male's big, puffy head made people think of a buffalo.
When it's here
- January: here
- February: here
- March: here
- April: a few
- May: not here
- June: not here
- July: not here
- August: not here
- September: not here
- October: not here
- November: here
- December: here
Taller bars mean more sightings. Most often seen in February.
How big
13 to 15 inches. A little smaller than a crow. It's one of the smallest ducks.
Where to look
Lakes, ponds, and slow rivers. Look for a pair or a small group diving over and over.
People have spotted it at Oklahoma City Zoo area, Lake Hefner, Martin Park Nature Center.
Could it be something else?
Hooded Merganser
The male also has a white patch on a black head. His white patch is a crest with a black edge, and he can raise it up high or lay it flat. He's a bit bigger than a Bufflehead.
More photos
Where these facts come from
- Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- When it's here: Sightings shared on iNaturalist in the 8 counties, all years.