Game Birds of the World

The name bufflehead (a contraction of an older name buffalo-head), seems descriptive of this beautiful little North American duck, which appears to have a head that is too large for its body. The head of breeding males is magnificently adorned with a triangular white crest bounded in front and below by iridescent tones of green, purple, and bronze. The bufflehead has also been called spirit duck, which perfectly catches the essence of this sprite-like creature, whose presence manages to give life to an otherwise empty woodland pond, regardless of the bird's minuscule size. Besides the male's white crest, its underparts are also entirely white, and a broad white wing patch is evident in flight. The female is duller than the male but has a small white oval mark behind each eye and a smaller white patch on each wing.

Buffleheads are a delight to watch in any season, but during spring they are entrancing. The males court the females endlessly, in wild aerial chases, aquatic tournaments, and underwater attacks on other males. Somehow the females manage to select mates through all this commotion, and on arrival at their breeding grounds seek out nest sites, which are often old woodpecker holes. They lay clutches of eight or nine eggs and incubate them for about 30 days. Another 50–55 days are required to bring the young to fledging; at about this time the female begins her own flightless period.