One of the scarcest ducks in North America.
Courtship display includes a “water skiing” posture. Over 1/4 their body weight is stored as fat for migration.
Hunters call them “butterballs”
Name originates from “Buffalo Head”

Constantly active, energetic movements; feeding, preening, courting
Can take-off quickly from water without running.
Usually silent
courting males chatter
nesting females growl
Found in groups of ten or less
Begins during winter through the beginning of spring.
Birds pair-up before they reach the breeding ground
Characterized by rapid jerky movements & head bobbing by the male.
Male performs “water skiing” posture
Display ends with upward stretched wing flapping
Males drive away competitors.

Both males and females breed after their second year.
They form pairs and keep the same mate for several years.
Females return to their natal grounds.
Female cares for nest and brood.
Males help establish and defend territory.
Males leave for the Bufflehead molting ground.
Females lay six to eleven eggs in mid April to May.
Mother leaves the ducklings when they are five to six weeks old.
Males and females reunite and often return to the same wintering             grounds.

They breed during the summer in British Columbia and the northern half of Alberta.
Migrate south in late fall.
Birds from British Columbia travel to the Pacific Coast.
Most birds go east and south to the Atlantic.
They fly at night.
Spring migration is prolonged.

Winter in shallow sheltered coves, river mouths, and lagoons.
Feed around old wharves & log booms.
Breed in small ponds and wooded areas.
Cavity nesters:
females small enough to nest in flicker holes.
Dive in fresh and salt water to depths of four to fourteen feet.
Eat submerged aquatic vegetation mollusks, seeds, crustaceans, aquatic insects, and small fish.
Feed in small groups.
One or two birds feed while others stand watch.

Population was severely reduced as a result of over-hunting.
at the turn of the century
Population has greatly increased.
Migratory Bird Convention protection
Audubon Christmas Bird Counts show population increase.
Breeding Waterfowl Survey show increase of 13,200 birds per year.
Estimated population of 1.4 Million.

Breeding grounds are being impacted by deforestation of suitable cavity trees.
Another threat comes from agricultural expansion across the prairies.
Wintering birds are vulnerable to oil spills on the coast.

This information was compiled by Beth Bursuck.