Bufflehead Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBufflehead
Male
Small duck with large head and short bill. Large white patch on head, dark back, and white chest and flanks are visible from long distances. Purple-green iridescence on head can be hard to see.
© Liron Gertsman / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, November 21, 2015Female
Small brownish duck with large, rounded head and a distinctive, single white patch on the cheek.
© Tony V / Macaulay LibraryWashington, November 09, 2016Breeding male
Buffleheads forage for aquatic insects, crustaceans, and molluscs by diving staying submerged for about 13 seconds and consuming prey underwater.
© Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 06, 2014Male
Small duck with distinctive flight pattern: dark upperparts crossed by white stripes at the shoulder and in the wings.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 07, 2016Immature male
Small duck with large head and single white cheek patch.
© S. K. Jones / Macaulay LibraryTennessee, May 11, 2017Breeding male and females
Usually forms small to medium-sized flocks during the nonbreeding season.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryMissouri, January 20, 1997Female
Small brownish duck with large, rounded head and a distinctive, single white patch on the cheek.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, April 21, 2017Female
May occur in flocks. Female lacks male's large white wingstripe, but has a smaller white wing patch sometimes visible at rest.
© John Reynolds / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, February 12, 2017Breeding male and female
Buffleheads require a running start when taking flight off water, but can achieve this over a shorter distance than most other duck species due to their small size.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryMissouri, January 20, 1997Male
In flight, note male's white head patch, wing patches, and underparts contrasting with black upperparts and outer wings.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 05, 2020Flock
Small duck with fast wingbeats. In flight, female lacks male's shoulder stripes and large white wing stripe, but has a smaller white wing patch sometimes visible at rest.
© Sharif Uddin / Macaulay LibraryHawaii, January 31, 2017Breeding male
Buffleheads perform self-maintenance activities on the water such as preening, stretching, and bathing.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 01, 1997Female and chick
Male departs breeding site during incubation in order to molt, leaving female alone to raise young.
© Jerry McFetridge / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, June 16, 2018Habitat
Fairly common on lakes, ponds, and coastal waters.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 02, 2017Similar SpeciesHooded Merganser
Adult male
Male Hooded Mergansers have cinnamon (not white) sides and a longer, thinner bill than male Buffleheads.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 24, 2015Similar SpeciesHooded Merganser
Nonbreeding male
Female/nonbreeding male Hooded Mergansers do not have white on the face and they have a shaggy crest unlike female Buffleheads.
© Amanda Guercio / Macaulay LibraryOntario, February 12, 2012Similar SpeciesHarlequin Duck
Breeding male and female
Harlequin Ducks are larger than Buffleheads. Males have a dark gray breast and belly unlike Buffleheads that have a white breast and belly. Female Harlequin Ducks have 2 (not one) white spots on the face.
© Cos van Wermeskerken / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 15, 2017Similar SpeciesCommon Goldeneye
Adult male
Common Goldeneyes are larger than Buffleheads. Males have a round white spot behind their bill that male Buffleheads lack.
© sam hough / Macaulay LibraryArizona, February 07, 2017Similar SpeciesCommon Goldeneye
Female
Common Goldeneyes are larger than Buffleheads. Females do not have white on the face like female Buffleheads.
© John Reynolds / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 17, 2017Similar SpeciesBarrow's Goldeneye
Adult male
Barrow's Goldeneyes are larger than Buffleheads. Males have an oval or crescent white spot behind their bill that male Buffleheads lack.
© Kathryn Keith / Macaulay LibraryWashington, January 21, 2017Similar SpeciesBarrow's Goldeneye
Female
Barrow's Goldeneyes are larger than Buffleheads. Females do not have white on the face like female Buffleheads.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 22, 2008Similar SpeciesRuddy Duck
Breeding male (Ruddy)
Ruddy Ducks are larger than Buffleheads with a bigger bill. Male Ruddy Ducks have a white patch behind the bill not on the back of the head like male Buffleheads.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 07, 2017Similar SpeciesRuddy Duck
Female (Ruddy)
Ruddy Ducks are larger than Buffleheads with a bigger bill. Females have whitish cheeks and a capped look, not seen on female Buffleheads.
© David Yeamans / Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 08, 2017Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
More to Read
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.