The Bufflehead is a small, fast diving duck native to North America. It often flies very close to water, and makes no vocal sounds in flight (National Wildlife Federation 2005). It is often associated with coastal waters (Elphick et al. 2001), but is more recently being found in the park. Just outside of park boundaries, it is common in lakes, reservoirs, and slow-moving rivers. It may even reach rivers at lower boundaries of the park, including the Oconaluftee River. Sightings have also been made at the sewage treatment ponds at Cades Cove.
This species may be more common during migration than reported, especially along the park?s southwestern boundary in reservoirs. This species stays in small flocks in order to have some individuals stay on guard while others are feeding. This species is more monogamous than most bird because it may keep the same mate for several years (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003).

Species Description:
Length: 13.5 in. (34.3 cm) (Kaufman 2000).

Physical characteristics:
Adult male Buffleheads have a blackish, shiny, dark green head and back. The head has a large white patch wrapping around the back. Underparts are solid white. It has white wing patches on the secondaries that can only be seen in flight. Females and immatures are similar in appearance. They have browner upperparts than the male and the white patch on the head is reduced to a white ear spot. The underparts of females and immatures are more of a brownish tint than the adult males.

Voice:
The Bufflehead is often silent, but males will make a ?squeaky whistle?, while females have a ?hoarse quack? (What Bird 2005).

Breeding habitat:
Mixed coniferous-deciduous woodlands near a lake or pond (Ehrlich 1988).

Mating system:
Monogamous, and may keep the same mate for many years (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003). Courtship displays consist of ?guttural chattering? (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003).

Nest:
The female makes a nest within 650 (m) of water in a cavity of a tree or limb. She may also nest in a burrow in the bank if cavities are scarce. The nest is unlined, but she may use remnants from previous nesters (Ehrlich 1988).

Eggs:
The eggs are unmarked and ivory-yellow/light olive-buff in color, 1.8 in. (46 mm). They are usually 8-10 eggs in a clutch, and typically only one brood a year (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Chick development:
The female incubates the eggs for 29 to 31 days. When the hatchlings are born they are totally precocial, finding their own food. Only the female tends to the young, which fledge in 50 to 55 days (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Diet:
This species mainly feeds on aquatic invertebrates, but may feed on fish in the winter. They forage by diving under water after their prey (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Conservation Biology:
Bufflehead populations are currently of no conservation concern. In the early 20th century, populations decreased due to hunting. Since the 1950?s, inventories indicated that populations have doubled (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003).

Breeding:
This species breeds across most of Canada, parts of southern Alaska, as well as northern Idaho and northwest Montana.

Winter:
Coastal waters of North America, as well as southern states and the Gulf of Mexico (What Bird 2005). It will also winter in central Mexico (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Alsop (2003) has classified this species as a rare winter migrant. More recent observations may support this species as a regular migrant. The following records in the Park are from November through April of 2005 and 2006.. Over 40 of these ducks were seen on the sewage treatment ponds in Cades Cove during February of 2005 and over 50 in November of 2006. If trends continue, this will be a common winter resident in the Park.

References:

Alsop, F. J. III. 1991. Birds Of The Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains History Association, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2003. Available at All About Birds: Bufflehead. Accessed on March 30, 2006.

Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1988. The Birder?s Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. Simon and Schuster, Inc. New York.

Elphick, C., J. B. Dunning, Jr., and D.A. Sibley, eds. 2001. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

Kaufman, K. 2000. Birds of North America. Hillstar Editions L. C. New York.

LeGrand, H. E. and Hall, S. P., compilers. 1999. Natural Heritage Program List of the Rare Animals of North Carolina. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Reso

National Wildlife Federation. 2005. Available at Enature Field Guide: Bufflehead. Accessed on March 30, 2006.

What Bird: The Ultimate Bird Guide. 2005. Available at Field Guide to Birds of North America: Bufflehead. Accessed March 30, 2006.

Withers, D. I., K. Condict, and R. McCoy. 2004. A Guide to the Rare Animals of Tennessee. Division of Natural Heritage, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.