Bufflehead

Description

Buffleheads are some of the smaller ducks in the Chugach Region. The males have a white body, black back, and black head that shines metallic colors with a large white patch that wraps the back of the head. The females are a gray brown all over with a distinct white patch on the cheek.

Habitat and Status

The Bufflehead is a resident of the Chugach Region. It occurs seasonally as an abundant migrant, a rare summer visitor and breeder, and a common winter resident where they occur throughout most of the bays, inlets, and fjords. In some sheltered areas, they are locally abundant. Buffleheads are rarely seen on land, typically only leaving the water to nest or move ducklings. Buffleheads only nest in cavities such as holes that naturally occur in trees, ones made by woodpeckers or other birds, or even artificial birdhouses. Just before the female lays her eggs, she will start to make secret flights, with or without her mate, to her chosen nesting site. Once she begins incubating, the male Bufflehead will leave to molt.

Audubon models suggest that as the climate warms, the Bufflehead breeding range is likely to decrease and the wintering range will increase by 2080. Wintering populations in the Chugach Region are also likely to increase in the future.

Distribution of buffleheads in the Chugach Region.