Bufflehead Bucephala albeola

Identification Tips:

• Very small compact diving duck
• Very small dark gray bill
• Immature female similar to adult female, but immature male has a larger white cheek patch

Adult male alternate:

• Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer
• Dark glossy head
• Large white patch on the head from behind the eye
• White breast, belly and flanks
• Dark back
• Inner wing white and outer wing dark, visible in flight

Adult male basic:

• Similar to adult female but with a larger white cheek patch

Adult female:

• Dark brown head and body, breast and flanks paler
• Oval white patch on face behind eye
• White belly
• White inner secondaries and otherwise dark wing, visible in flight

Similar species:

Female Bufflehead distinguished from female Harlequin Duck by white secondaries and single white patch behind the eye.