Specie's Page                                               Water Fowl - Bufflehead Duck

Bufflehead Duck: UK Status: Non native, but escapee's from collections are found in the wild. These ducks are also found in private collections an large estates.

Habitat: This duck overwinters on protected coastal and inland waters of the southern USA. They can be seen in winter on the Great Lakes. They breed on wooded lakes and pools, mainly in Canada.

Breeding: Buffleheads are monogamous, and usually return to the same nest site year, after year. Nests are the cavities in trees, mainly Aspens and Poplars, usually using the old nests of the Flickers (A type of woodpecker). When nesting the females are often preyed upon by animals such as weasels and foxes. They may also be killed by female birds of other species looking for a nesting site. Golden-eye Ducks are notorious for this behaviour. There are usually around nine pale buff, glossy eggs in a clutch, but there can be as few as six, or as many as eleven. Incubation takes about a month, and a day after the last egg hatches the ducklings fledge.

Comment: This is a highly spirited diving duck, and it's images has been added to some 'Coats of Arms'. Buffleheads are hunted by man, though it's numbers remain consistent and unaffected by hunting.

BE AWARE PLEASE:  Ground nesting birds are very vulnerable to having their eggs and chicks smashed or crushed. This can happen when people are unaware of their presence, or when dogs are allowed to run loose during the breeding season. Nests are very well hidden, and are not usually spotted until it's to late. Dogs often have no concern for ground nesting birds, please keep them on their leads from April through to the end of September.