Bucephala albeola

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Bufflehead

G5Secure Found in 162 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104714
Element CodeABNJB18030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderAnseriformes
FamilyAnatidae
GenusBucephala
Other Common Names
bufflehead (EN) Pato Monja (ES) Petit garrot (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-06
Change Date1996-11-21
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Range Extent Comments
BREEDING: central Alaska, Mackenzie Delta, northern Prairie Provinces, northern Ontario, south to northern Washington, northern Montana; locally south to the mountains of Oregon, northern California, and northern Colorado (Andrews and Righter 1992). NON-BREEDING: Aleutians, Alaska Peninsula, Great Lakes, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, south to Baja California, mainland Mexico, Gulf Coast, Florida; occasionally in Hawaii. The most abundant wintering populations include those around Vancouver Island, along the Atlantic coast from the Bay of Fundy to Chesapeake Bay, and in northern California-southern Oregon, Mississippi, eastern New Mexico (Root 1988).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

BREEDING: Lakes, ponds, rivers and seacoasts (AOU 1983). Breeds in tree cavities in mixed coniferous-deciduous woodland near lakes and ponds (AOU 1983). Usually nests in natural tree cavities, or abandoned flicker holes. Females often nest in same site in successive years. NON-BREEDING: wintering on sheltered bays and estuaries as well as open freshwater situations (AOU 1983).

Ecology

Usually seen in small groups of twos or threes. Female strongly defends brood territory. In British Columbia, breeding density not limited by nest sites but rather by territorial behavior (Gauthier and Smith 1987); also, may be excluded from some ponds at high Barrow's goldeneye densities (Savard et al. 1991).

Reproduction

Breeding begins mid-May in south to early June in north (Harrison 1978). Clutch size 6-11 (avg. 7-9). Incubation 28-33 days, by female (Terres 1980). In British Columbia, mean hatching date is mid- to late June (Savard et al. 1991). Young tended by female, fly 50-55 days after hatching. First breeds at 2 yr.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - Mixed
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
ManitobaS4BYes
AlbertaS5BYes
LabradorS2BYes
Nova ScotiaS4N,SUMYes
Prince Edward IslandSUMYes
New BrunswickS3NYes
British ColumbiaS5B,SNRNYes
Northwest TerritoriesS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS1B,S1N,SUMYes
QuebecS4BYes
Yukon TerritoryS4BYes
SaskatchewanS5BYes
United StatesN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
OhioSNRNYes
AlaskaS5B,S5NYes
ArizonaS5NYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
South DakotaS1B,S2NYes
WisconsinSNAYes
IndianaS4NYes
Navajo NationS4NYes
TennesseeS5NYes
KentuckyS3NYes
OregonS2B,S5NYes
IowaS3NYes
MassachusettsS5NYes
NevadaS4NYes
MarylandS5NYes
New HampshireSNAYes
UtahS3NYes
District of ColumbiaS1NYes
New MexicoS5NYes
IllinoisSNAYes
FloridaSNRNYes
WyomingS2BYes
PennsylvaniaS4NYes
South CarolinaS5NYes
ArkansasS4NYes
DelawareS4NYes
MinnesotaSNRBYes
OklahomaSNRNYes
MichiganSNRNYes
GeorgiaS5Yes
North CarolinaS5NYes
MissouriSNRNYes
Rhode IslandSNAYes
West VirginiaS4NYes
KansasSNAYes
IdahoS3N,S3BYes
VirginiaSNRNYes
NebraskaSNRNYes
ColoradoS1BYes
ConnecticutSNAYes
New YorkSNRNYes
AlabamaS4NYes
MississippiS4NYes
North DakotaS4Yes
New JerseySNRNYes
WashingtonS4B,S4NYes
LouisianaS4NYes
MaineS5NYes
MontanaS5BYes
VermontS4NYes
TexasS5NYes
Roadless Areas (162)
Alaska (33)
AreaForestAcres
Bay of PillarsTongass National Forest27,492
Behm IslandsTongass National Forest4,777
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-13Chugach National Forest13,337
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
GravinaTongass National Forest37,381
Hoonah SoundTongass National Forest79,764
Johnson PassChugach National Forest152,508
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
KartaTongass National Forest52,117
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
MadanTongass National Forest68,553
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North RevillaTongass National Forest215,430
North WrangellTongass National Forest8,091
Outer IslandsTongass National Forest99,862
Port AlexanderTongass National Forest120,681
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
RevillaTongass National Forest29,298
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Arizona (2)
AreaForestAcres
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
California (44)
AreaForestAcres
Barney RileyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,083
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Lakes BasinTahoe National Forest557
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Middle YubaTahoe National Forest7,379
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mystic (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest836
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest11,022
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Timbered CraterLassen National Forest4,096
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
Trail LakeLassen National Forest1,124
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest4,394
Colorado (1)
AreaForestAcres
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Georgia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Turner CreekChattahoochee National Forest1,495
Idaho (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Bighorn - WeitasNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest254,845
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Peace RockBoise National Forest191,734
Montana (15)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanHelena National Forest51,360
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
Buckhorn Ridge (MT)Kootenai National Forest34,716
Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area OcdGallatin National Forest35,048
Cabinet Face East #671Kootenai National Forest50,326
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
LionheadGallatin National Forest33,549
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
North SiegelLolo National Forest9,208
Scotchman Peaks (MT)Kootenai National Forest53,909
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Silver KingBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest64,289
Nevada (6)
AreaForestAcres
Antelope - West 1Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,642
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
Rose - Dutch LouieHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest363
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - Hunter Lk NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest149
Table Mtn. - EastHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest87,789
New Mexico (3)
AreaForestAcres
Arroyo de los FrijolesSanta Fe National Forest5,277
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Oregon (17)
AreaForestAcres
BearwallowsDeschutes National Forest7,317
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Maiden PeakDeschutes National Forest26,432
Maiden PeakWillamette National Forest9,627
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
SherwoodUmpqua National Forest2,449
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
WaldoDeschutes National Forest4,973
Waldo - FujiWillamette National Forest15,273
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Tennessee (1)
AreaForestAcres
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (7)
AreaForestAcres
0401011Ashley National Forest30,062
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
Moody WashDixie National Forest31,835
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Rock CanyonDixie National Forest16,457
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
Vermont (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Virginia (4)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Little AlleghanyGeorge Washington National Forest10,215
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Washington (12)
AreaForestAcres
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
Eagle RockMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest34,064
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Grassy TopIdaho Panhandle National Forests13,485
Grassy TopColville National Forest10,302
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
Slide RidgeWenatchee National Forest11,430
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
Wyoming (6)
AreaForestAcres
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (24)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  3. Andrews, R., and R. Righter. 1992. Colorado birds: a reference to their distribution and habitat. Denver Museum Natural History xxxviii + 442 pp.
  4. Bellrose, F.C. 1976. Ducks, geese and swans of North America. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA.
  5. Bellrose, F. C. 1980. Ducks, geese and swans of North America. 3rd edition. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 540 pp.
  6. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  7. Eadie, J. M., L.-P. L. Savard, and M. L. Mallory. 2000 Barrow's Goldeneye (BUCEPHALA ISLANDICA). No. 548 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors, The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  8. Erskine, A. 1971. Buffleheads. Ottawa. 240 pp.
  9. Gauthier, G. 1988. Factors affecting nest-box use by buffleheads and other cavity-nesting birds. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 16:132-141.
  10. Gauthier, G., and J. N. M. Smith. 1987. Territorial behaviour, nest-site availability, and breeding density in buffleheads. J. Anim. Ecol. 56:171-184.
  11. Grand, J.B., and P.L. Flint. 1997. Productivity of nesting Spectacled Eiders on the lower Kashunuk River, Alaska. Condor 100:926-932.
  12. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  13. Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb. 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  14. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  15. Poole, A. F. and F. B. Gill. 1992. The birds of North America. The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
  16. Raffaele, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, A. Keith, and J. Raffaele. 1998. A guide to the birds of the West Indies. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 511 pp.
  17. Reed, A. 1975. Migration, homing, and mortality of breeding female eiders SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA DRESSERI of the St. Lawrence estuary, Quebec. Ornis Scand. 6:41-47.
  18. Root, T. 1988. Atlas of wintering North American birds: An analysis of Christmas Bird Count data. University of Chicago Press. 336 pp.
  19. Savard, J.-P. L., G. E. J. Smith, and J. N. M. Smith. 1991. Duckling mortality in Barrow's goldeneye and bufflehead broods. Auk 108:568-577.
  20. Sibley, D. A. 2000a. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  21. Swennen, C. 1990. Dispersal and migratory movements of eiders SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA breeding in the Netherlands. Ornis Scand. 21:17-27.
  22. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  23. van de Wetering, D. 1997. Moult characteristics and habitat selection of post-breeding male Barrow's Goldeneye (BUCEPHALA ISLANDICA) in northern Yukon. Technical Report Series No. 296, Canadian Wildlife Service, Quebec Region.
  24. Wakeley, J. S., and H. L. Mendall. 1976. Migrational homing and survival of adult female eiders in Maine. Journal of Wildlife Management 40:15-21.