The bufflehead is North America's smallest diving duck, giving it the advantage of being able to nest in abandoned holes of northern flickers, a plentiful resource off limits to larger cavity-nesting ducks.

It is a swift flyer and takes wing from water more easily and neatly than other diving ducks. Widely distributed throughout the state in winter, males attract attention with their striking white body, black back, and iridescent black head with a large notch of white; females and juveniles are dark charcoal-gray with a conspicuous white patch behind and below the eye.

It is a local, uncommon breeder in the central and southern Cascades but is rare away from breeding locations. it is a common migrant throughout the state in both spring and fall. It winters throughout Oregon.

Hear the call of the bufflehead

Photo by Cathy Nowak, ODFW