"WHAT? IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN??"

Bufflehead - 11 Photos

I'm probably not the only one out there who has seen the male Bufflehead duck from a distance and thought, "What a cute little black & white duck". Buffleheads are a third of the weight of a Mallard duck & smaller than the Common Goldeneye.

But if you add in one natural ingredient, sunlight, at just the right angle something magical occurs. (Well, I think it's magical.)

Like the White-Faced Ibis's feathers, when viewed in the right light, the male Bufflehead's head feathers shimmer and take on tones of emerald green & maroon. And with the white patch behind each eye, that black & white duck is no more. (Photo #1 - Photo #6)

I had been taking a snack break beside the river channel when two dueling male Buffleheads caught my attention. They must have gone at it for at least 20 minutes, one in particular chasing the other away, only for it to return for another round of sparring. As you will see from the photos, one male is slightly larger and more colourful than the other. This larger duck, I believe, was the victor in this match. (Photo #7 - Photo #9)

And what was the object of their attention - well, the female Bufflehead of course. (Photo #11) And just because this male Bufflehead won this round, it probably won't mean it has won the mating privileges of this particular female.

THE VICTOR

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

THE CONTENDER

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

THE DUEL

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

PHOTO #10

THE FEMALE

PHOTO #11