 |
| Fact Sheet |
| Scientific Name |
Bucephala albeola |
| Wing spread |
24 inches |
| Body length |
15 inches |
| Weight |
1.1 pounds |
| Description |
The bufflehead is a small duck.Males have a black head with green iridescence and a white wedge-shaped crown patch, black back and white chest and belly. Females are generally brown and black with a small white spot behind the eyes.Males have a large white shoulder patch; both sexes have a white speculum. |
| Nesting Habitat |
Buffleheads are cavity nesters, often using older woodpecker holes. |
| Clutch size |
9 eggs |
| Incubation period |
30 days |
| Status in North Dakota |
Buffleheads are fairly common during migration seasons. Those ducks that do nest in North Dakota are found most commonly in the Turtle Mountains and other forested areas. |
| Food habits |
Feeds primarily on aquatic insects and other invertebrates. |
| Fun Facts |
At times, limited nesting sites put buffleheads in competition with starlings and woodpeckers for nesting cavities. |
