Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

Introduction

Related to Goldeneye, but much smaller and with a large white patch on the back of the head, this duck is a very rare visitor from North America

The Bufflehead nests almost exclusively in holes excavated by Northern Flickers (a type of American woodpecker).

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

367.5g

Seasonality

BTO Records

947 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Isles of Scilly, 1920

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution. There has been a wide scatter of recent records, but separating wild vagrants from escaped individuals is problematic.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Bufflehead movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Bufflehead, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Bufflehead

Classification and Codes

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Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Scientific name: Bucephala albeola
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: VH
BTO 5-letter code: BUFFL
Euring code number: 2160

Alternate species names

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Catalan: morell capblanc
Czech: hohol belavý
Danish: Bøffeland
Dutch: Buffelkopeend
Estonian: sõnnpea-sõtkas
Finnish: pikkutelkkä
French: Petit Garrot

German: Büffelkopfente
Hungarian: fehérfeju kerceréce
Icelandic: Hjálmönd
Italian: Quattrocchi minore
Latvian: maza nira
Lithuanian: baltakuode klykuole
Norwegian: Bøffeland

Polish: gagolek
Portuguese: olho-dourado-de-touca
Slovak: hlaholka malá
Slovenian: mali zvonec
Spanish: Porrón albeola
Swedish: buffelhuvud

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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