Bucephala albeola

From marinelife1011

Bucephala albeola is commonly known as the Bufflehead. It is the smallest diving duck in North America.^[1] The name bufflehead or "buffalo head" refers to its bulbous head shape. This is most noticeable when a male puffs out his head feathers, increasing the size of its head.^[2]

Contents 1 Description 2 Reproduction and Life History 3 Habitat 4 Conservation 5 References 6 Links

Description

Physical Description
The Bufflehead can grow between 12.5 - 16 inches (32-40 cm) and weigh 0.6-1.2 lbs (270-550 g). The species is Dimorphic, which means the males, also called Drakes, are larger than females. Drakes have a glossy, greenish-black head with a large white cap behind the eyes. Their body is mainly white with a black back. Females have a brown head with a smaller white patch behind the eyes. Their body color is mainly brown with a light underside.^[2]

Diet and Feeding
Bufflehead like to forage underwater. They feed by diving to the cove bottom where they consume benthic invertebrates including crustaceans, gastropods, and bivalves.^[3] Sometimes they feed on fish eggs and aquatic plants.^[2] Like other diving ducks, the Bufflehead can swallow while underwater.^[4]

Reproduction and Life History

Reproduction
Bufflehead courtship, by males, is extremely animated. It involves chasing, head pumping and erecting a bushy crest to enlarge their head. Males chase other males away, but also chase after females. Females respond with vocalizations and a less animated head display telling her suitor to continue his courtship.^[5] Like most other seaducks, Bufflehead experience long term pair bonds.^[6] Breeding occurs in Alaska or Canada.^[2] Females prefer to nest in the cavities of trees. They are reluctant to leave the nest and usually do so in the evening. It’s not uncommon for a female to use the same nesting site more than once, if not driven out by predators. Mothers stay with ducklings until 7-8 weeks of age and if abandoned, it’s not uncommon for ducklings to be adopted by another brood.^[5]

Life History
In a study of tagged Buffleheads, the oldest recorded male was 15 yrs old, oldest female was 12 yrs old.^[4]

Habitat

Habitat
During the winter, Buffleheads spend the majority of their time on the water and tend to favor shallow water habitats.^[3] They winter in coastal waters on the east and west coasts of North America. They do not collect in huge flocks, usually less than 10.^[2] Bufflehead have a strong tendency to return to the same wintering area.^[6]

Conservation

Conservation
Bufflehead ducks are hunted for sport in US and Canada. Their breed makes up 2% of duck sport hunting. Ducks return to breeding ground year after year. With with local over harvesting devastates the population while clear-cut lumbering threatens forest habitat.^[4]

References

1. ↑ “All About Birds” Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Copyright 2010. Retrieved 1/31/2011. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bufflehead/lifehistory
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} “Bufflehead Ducks” AvianWeb.com. Copyright 2010. Retrieved 1/31/2011. http://www.avianweb.com/buffleheadduck.html
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} McKinney, Richard A., McWilliams, Scott R. "A New Model to Estimate Daily Energy Expenditure for Wintering Waterfowl". The Wilson Bulletin, Vol. 117, No. 1 (2005) p.44-55.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Roof, Jennifer. “Bucephala albeola”, Animal Diversity Web. Copyright 2008. Retrieved 1/31/2011 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Bucephala_albeola.html
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Dye, Paul, “Bufflehead Ducks – Mighty Mights”. [Internet] Retrieve 1/31/2011. http://www.greatnorthern.net/~dye/Bufflehead_ducks.htm
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Gauthier, Gilles. "Further Evidence of Long-term Pair Bonds in Ducks of the Genus Bucephala", The Auk, Vol. 104, No. 3 (July 1987), p. 521-522.

^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

Links

Video: Mating Behavior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDb2tvhhqu8
Video: Underwater swimming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGtQL5uqd8I