Description
In the winter months the Bufflehead, our smallest duck, lives on the West Coast of Canada and all the way south to the coast of Mexico. It prefers to be in salt water bays and inlets. During breeding season and summer months the Bufflehead lives on ponds and lakes in the interior of British Columbia and the Prairie provinces. The male Bufflehead’s distinctive appearance makes him easy to identify. Notice the large white patch at the back of his head. His crown, forehead, chin, neck and back are very black. In the sunlight, his head may appear to be iridescent shades of purple or green. Where are his scapulars? What colour are they? What colour are his tertials and primaries? His flanks and bottom are white. The female has a black head and back and a small white patch near her eyes. She has grayish-brown flanks and bottom. Both male and female have pink legs.
