Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Mdf assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nova Scotia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northwest Territories Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nunavut Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ontario Ducks, Geese & Swans of Prince Edward Island

See what's near you right now

The Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 397 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Bucephala
Species albeola

Where it lives

Subarctic west-central Alaska and Canada east to eastern Quebec and (locally) northwestern, north-central USA

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 397 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Bufflehead hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Bufflehead is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA subarctic wc Alaska and Canada e to e Quebec and (locally) nw, nc USA.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 397 g, with a wing length of about 16.1 cm and a tail of around 6.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.9 million km².

Songs & calls

Bufflehead — Call

Recorded by Richard E. Webster Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Bufflehead?

The Bufflehead is a large bird that weighs around 397 g.

Where does the Bufflehead live?

The Bufflehead is found across North America with a range covering NA subarctic wc Alaska and Canada e to e Quebec and (locally) nw, nc USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Bufflehead belong to?

The Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Bufflehead eat?

The Bufflehead hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Bufflehead migrate?

The Bufflehead is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Bufflehead endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Bufflehead make?

1 real field recording of the Bufflehead — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Bufflehead's range?

The Bufflehead has a mapped global range of about 4.9 million km².