Jump to content

Bufflehead

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bufflehead
Male
Female
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Bucephala
Species:
B. albeola
Binomial name
Bucephala albeola
Breeding
Migration
Year-round
Nonbreeding
Synonyms
  • Anas albeolaLinnaeus, 1758
  • Charitonetta albeola(Linnaeus, 1758)

Thebufflehead(Bucephala albeola) is a smallsea duckof the genusBucephala,thegoldeneyes.It breeds in Alaska and Canada and migrates in winter to southern North America. This species was first described byCarl Linnaeusin his landmark 175810th edition ofSystema NaturaeasAnas albeola.

Taxonomy

[edit]

The bufflehead wasformally describedin 1758 by the Swedish naturalistCarl Linnaeusin thetenth editionof hisSystema Naturaeunder thebinomial nameAnas albeola.[2]Linnaeus based his account on the "little black and white duck" that had been described in 1747 by the English naturalistGeorge Edwardsin the second volume of hisA Natural History of Uncommon Birds.Edwards examined a specimen from Newfoundland provided by the archivistGeorge Holmes (archivist),the deputyKeeper of Records in the Tower of London.[3]Linnaeus specified thetype localityas America, but this has been restricted to Newfoundland following Edwards.[4]The bufflehead is now placed with two goldeneye species in the genusBucephalathat was introduced in 1858 by the American naturalistSpencer Baird.The species ismonotypic:nosubspeciesare recognised.[5]The genus name is derived fromAncient Greekboukephalos,"bullheaded", frombous,"bull", andkephale,"head", a reference to the oddly bulbous head shape of the species. The species namealbeolais a diminutive ofLatinalbusmeaning "white".[6]

Description

[edit]

The bufflehead ranges from 32–40 cm (13–16 in) long and weighs 270–550 g (9.5–19.4 oz), with the drakes larger than the females. Averaging 35.5 cm (14.0 in) and 370 g (13 oz), it rivals thegreen-winged tealas the smallest American duck. The bufflehead has a wingspan of 21.6 in (55 cm).[7]

Adult males are striking black and white, with iridescent green and purple heads and a large white patch behind the eye. Females are grey-toned with a smaller white patch behind the eye and a light underside.[8]

Distribution and habitat

[edit]

They aremigratoryand most of them winter in protected coastal waters, or open inland waters, on the east and west coasts of North America and the southern United States. They can also be observed wintering on theGreat Lakes.The bufflehead is an extremely rare vagrant to western Europe. Their breeding habitat is wooded lakes and ponds inAlaskaandCanada,almost entirely included in the boreal forest ortaigahabitat. From 1966 - 2015, the bufflehead experienced a >1.5% yearly population increase throughout its breeding range.[9]

Behavior

[edit]
Male flying in California
Bucephala albeola-MHNT

Buffleheads have evolved their small size to fit the nesting cavity of their "metabiotic"host, a woodpecker, thenorthern flicker.[10]Due to their small size, they are highly active, undertaking dives almost continuously while sustained by their high metabolism. They do not tend to collect in large flocks; groups are usually limited to small numbers. One duck serves as a sentry, watching for predators as the others in the group dive in search of food.[8]Buffleheads are amongst the last waterfowl to leave their breeding grounds and one of the world's most punctual migrants, arriving on their wintering grounds within a narrow margin of time.[11]

Breeding

[edit]

Buffleheads are monogamous,[10]and the females may return to the same nest site, year after year. They nest in cavities in trees, primarily aspens or poplars, using mostly oldflickernests, close (usually < 25 m (82 ft)) to water. Nest competitors includemountain bluebird(Sialia currucoides),tree swallow(Tachycineta bicolor), andEuropean starling.There was one recorded instance of a femaleBarrow's goldeneyekilling a bufflehead adult female and her brood. Smaller cavities are preferred because of less competition with the largergoldeneyes.Females may be killed on the nest by mammals, such asfoxes(VulpesandUrocyonsp.),weasels(MustelaandNeogalesp.) ormink(Neogale vison), and by goldeneyes over nest competition.

Average clutch size is nine (range six to 11), and eggs average 50.5 by 36.3 mm (1.99 by 1.43 in).[10]Incubation averages 30 days, and nest success is high (79% in one study) compared to ground-nesting species like the teal. A day after the last duckling hatches, the brood leaps from the nest cavity. The young fledge at 50–55 days of age.[12]Predators of adults include theperegrine falcon(Falco peregrinus),snowy owl(Bubo scandiacus),bald eagle(Haliaeetus leucocephalus),golden eagle(Aquila chrysaetos),red-tailed hawk(Buteo jamaicensis),great horned owl(Bubo virginianus), andCooper's hawk(Accipiter cooperii).

Diet

[edit]

These diving birds forage underwater. They prefer water depths of 1.2–4.5 m (3.9–14.8 ft).[8]In freshwater habitats, they eat primarilyinsects,and in saltwater, they feed predominantly oncrustaceansandmollusks.Aquatic plants and fish eggs can often become locally important food items, as well.

Relationship with humans

[edit]

Because of their striking plumage, highly active nature, and proximity to humans on waterfront properties, buffleheads are one of the most popular birds amongst bird watchers.[12]The bufflehead, also known as the spirit duck, was added to the coat of arms of the town ofSidney, British Columbia,in 1995.[13]Buffleheads are hunted and are considered a gamebird. In contrast to many other seaducks that have declined in recent decades, bufflehead numbers have remained relatively constant.[10]Habitat degradation is the major threat to this bird, since they depend on very limited coastal habitat on their wintering grounds, and very specific habitat in their boreal breeding grounds.[citation needed]Although buffleheads do use man-made nest boxes, they still need the forest habitat to thrive.

References

[edit]
  1. ^BirdLife International (2016)."Bucephala albeola".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2016:e.T22680462A92863192.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680462A92863192.en.Retrieved19 November2021.
  2. ^Linnaeus, Carl(1758).Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis(in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 124.
  3. ^Edwards, George(1747).A Natural History of Uncommon Birds.Vol. 2. London: Printed for the author at the College of Physicians. p. 100, Plate 100.
  4. ^Mayr, Ernst;Cottrell, G. William, eds. (1979).Check-List of Birds of the World.Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 496.
  5. ^Gill, Frank;Donsker, David;Rasmussen, Pamela,eds. (December 2023)."Screamers, ducks, geese & swans".IOC World Bird List Version 14.1.International Ornithologists' Union.Retrieved1 July2024.
  6. ^Jobling, James A. (2010).The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names.London: Christopher Helm. pp.79,38.ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
  7. ^"Bufflehead Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology".www.allaboutbirds.org.Retrieved2020-09-26.
  8. ^abcLippson, Alice Jane; Lippson, Robert L. (1997).Life in the Chesapeake Bay.JHU Press. p. 253.ISBN0-8018-5475-X.
  9. ^"BBS Trend Maps - Bufflehead Bucephala albeola".USGS.US Department of the Interior.Retrieved2021-02-18.
  10. ^abcdGauthier, G. 1993. Bufflehead,Bucephala albeola.The Birds of North America. (67), 24 pages. Edited by A. Poole and F. Gill, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
  11. ^Finley, J.K. 2007. The punctual Bufflehead,Bucephala albeola:autumn arrivals in Shoal Harbour Sanctuary, Vancouver Island, in relation to freeze-up. Canadian Field-Naturalist 121:370-374.
  12. ^abErskine, A. J. 1972. Buffleheads. Canadian Wildlife Service Monograph Series #4. Information Canada, Ottawa. 240 pages
  13. ^"Town Crest & Flag".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-10-20.Retrieved2013-10-19.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bufflehead&oldid=1240968675"