The Bufflehead is the smallest diving duck in North America, barely larger than a teal, with a large, puffy head and striking white patch that wraps around the back of the male's head. It nests almost exclusively in woodpecker holes — primarily Northern Flicker cavities — in aspen and poplar forests near small lakes. Its rapid wingbeats give it a somewhat bee-like, buzzing flight.
Best time to see a Bufflehead
The best time to see a Bufflehead is January–April, when about 64% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 66,017 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Bufflehead sightings near you
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