Bufflehead
Bufflehead | |
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Male | |
Female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Anseriformes |
Family: | Anatidae |
Genus: | Bucephala |
Species: | B. albeola
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Binomial name | |
Bucephala albeola | |
Synonyms | |
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The bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is a small
The genus name is derived from ancient Greek boukephalos, "bullheaded", from bous, "bull", and kephale, "head", a reference to the oddly bulbous head shape of the species. The species name albeola is from Latin albus, "white".[3] The English name is a combination of buffalo and head, again referring to the head shape.[4] This is most noticeable when the male puffs out the feathers on the head, thus greatly increasing the apparent size of the head.
Description
The bufflehead ranges from 32–40 cm (13–16 in) long and weighs 270–550 g (9.5–19.4 oz), with the drakes larger than the females. Averaging 35.5 cm (14.0 in) and 370 g (13 oz), it rivals the green-winged teal as the smallest American duck. The bufflehead has a wingspan of 21.6 in (55 cm).[5]
Adult males are striking black and white, with iridescent green and purple heads and a large white patch behind the eye. Females are grey-toned with a smaller white patch behind the eye and a light underside.[6]
Distribution and habitat
They are migratory and most of them winter in protected coastal waters, or open inland waters, on the east and west coasts of North America and the southern United States. They can also be observed wintering on the Great Lakes. The bufflehead is an extremely rare vagrant to western Europe. Their breeding habitat is wooded lakes and ponds in Alaska and Canada, almost entirely included in the boreal forest or taiga habitat. From 1966 - 2015, the bufflehead experienced a >1.5% yearly population increase throughout its breeding range.[7]
Behavior
Buffleheads have evolved their small size to fit the nesting cavity of their "
Breeding
Buffleheads are monogamous,
Average clutch size is nine (range six to 11), and eggs average 50.5 by 36.3 mm (1.99 by 1.43 in).[8] Incubation averages 30 days, and nest success is high (79% in one study) compared to ground-nesting species like the teal. A day after the last duckling hatches, the brood leaps from the nest cavity. The young fledge at 50–55 days of age.[10] Predators of adults include the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), and Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii).
Diet
These diving birds forage underwater. They prefer water depths of 1.2–4.5 m (3.9–14.8 ft).
Relationship with humans
Because of their striking plumage, highly active nature, and proximity to humans on waterfront properties, buffleheads are one of the most popular birds amongst bird watchers.[10] The bufflehead, also known as the spirit duck, was added to the coat of arms of the town of Sidney, British Columbia, in 1995.[11] Buffleheads are hunted and are considered a gamebird. In contrast to many other seaducks that have declined in recent decades, bufflehead numbers have remained relatively constant.[8] Habitat degradation is the major threat to this bird, since they depend on very limited coastal habitat on their wintering grounds, and very specific habitat in their boreal breeding grounds.[citation needed] Although buffleheads do use man-made nest boxes, they still need the forest habitat to thrive.
References
- . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Linnaeus, C (1758). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I (in Latin). Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii). p. 124.
A. alba, dorso remigibusque nigris, capite caerulescente, occipite albo.
- ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ISBN 0-8117-2821-8.
- ^ "Bufflehead Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- ^ ISBN 0-8018-5475-X.
- ^ "BBS Trend Maps - Bufflehead Bucephala albeola". USGS. US Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ^ a b c d Gauthier, G. 1993. Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola. The Birds of North America. (67), 24 pages. Edited by A. Poole and F. Gill, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
- ^ Finley, J.K. 2007. The punctual Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola: autumn arrivals in Shoal Harbour Sanctuary, Vancouver Island, in relation to freeze-up. Canadian Field-Naturalist 121:370-374.
- ^ a b Erskine, A. J. 1972. Buffleheads. Canadian Wildlife Service Monograph Series #4. Information Canada, Ottawa. 240 pages
- ^ "Town Crest & Flag". Archived from the original on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
External links
- Bufflehead at Birds of North America Online
- BirdWeb.Org: Bufflehead
- Bufflehead at Boreal Birds
- Buffleheads in Winter Birdnote Archives, KPLU, 7 Dec 2009.
- Bufflehead Species Account – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bufflehead – Bucephala albeola – USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- "Bufflehead media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Bufflehead photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Interactive range map of Bucephala albeola at IUCN Red List maps