Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)


Group	Swans, Geese, and Ducks
Code	ABNJB18030
Order	Anseriformes
Family	Anatidae
Author	(Linnaeus, 1758)
Rank	G5 (definitions)
Occurrence	M (definitions)
Scale	N (definitions)

County List:


Western UP	none
Eastern UP	none
Northern LP	none
Southern LP	none

Rule:

Forested Landscapes

Nesting and Foraging Habitats are Adjacent during the early breeding season.

Nesting Habitat:
      (Mixed Lowland Conifer (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing: (Snags or Living Cavity Trees)
   adjacent to:
      (Lake or Pond or River)

Foraging Habitat: 
      Lake 
      or Pond 
      or River

view decision rule term definitions

Habitat List:

Habitats	Regen	Sap	Pole	Sm Saw	Lg Saw	Uneven
Aspen	no	no	no	no	no	-
Paper Birch	no	no	no	no	no	-
Oak	no	no	no	no	no	no
Assorted Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Spruce/Fir	no	no	no	no	no	no
Hemlock	no	no	no	no	no	no
Jack Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Red Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
White Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Conifer Plantations	no	no	no	no	no	-
Mixed Upland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Upland Conifer	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Swamp Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch	no	no	no	no	no	no
Bottomland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Tamarack	no	no	no	no	no	no
Northern White Cedar	no	no	no	no	no	no
Black Spruce	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Lowland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Lowland Conifer	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Non-Forested	Lake, Pond, River
Special Features	Snags, Living Cavity Trees, Riparian

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Literature:

Adams, R. J. Jr. 1991. Bufflehead. Page 535 In: R. Brewer, G. A. McPeek, and R. J. Adams, Jr. (eds.) The atlas of breeding birds of Michigan. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing. 594 pp.

Buffleheads can be found on almost any pond, lake, or river during migration. This species breeds in tree cavities in mixed coniferous-deciduous forest up to 200 m from appropriate lakes and ponds. The nest site is typically an old flicker hole.

Kaufman, K. 1996. Lives of North American Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 675 pp.

Related to the goldeneyes and, like them, nests in cavities; but unlike other hole-nesting ducks, the Bufflehead is small enough to use unmodified old nest holes of Northern Flickers, giving it a ready source of good nest sites.

Habitat: Lakes, ponds, rivers; in winter, salt bays. Preferred nesting habitat is around ponds and small lakes in rather open mixed coniferous and deciduous forest, also burned areas and aspen groves; less often in pure coniferous forest near rivers or larger lakes. In winter, on sheltered bays and estuaries, also on lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers inland.

Diet: Varies with season and habitat. In summer and on fresh water feeds mainly on aquatic insects; on ocean feeds mainly on crustaceans. Also eats many mollusks (especially snails) in winter and small amounts of plant material in fall.

Nest: Site is in tree cavity (especially old flicker holes), usually 2-10 feet above ground, sometimes up to 50 feet. Sometimes uses nest boxes. Same site may be used for several years. Lining of down is only nest material.