Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is in the Ducks, Geese, and Swans family (Anatidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 66,270 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Bufflehead: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bufflehead
The bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is a small sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae as Anas albeola.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bufflehead by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 19,997 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Washington | 5,938 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Texas | 4,520 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Oregon | 3,316 | March | Nov–Apr |
| New York | 3,069 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 3,051 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Maryland | 2,533 | January | Nov–Mar |
| New Jersey | 1,781 | March | Nov–Mar |
| Virginia | 1,747 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Ohio | 1,519 | March | Jan–Apr |
| Illinois | 1,326 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Michigan | 1,254 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Colorado | 1,193 | November | Nov–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 1,138 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 970 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Minnesota | 922 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 865 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Florida | 844 | December | Dec–Mar |
| South Carolina | 691 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Idaho | 637 | November | Nov–Apr |
| Arizona | 625 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Delaware | 620 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Maine | 567 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Nevada | 522 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Tennessee | 512 | December | Nov–Mar |
| Alaska | 509 | April | Mar–May |
| Vermont | 480 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Mexico | 441 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Connecticut | 387 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Alabama | 375 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Rhode Island | 337 | February | Nov–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 298 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Indiana | 293 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Georgia | 269 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Utah | 260 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Arkansas | 242 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Wyoming | 220 | May | May–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 208 | April | Jan–Apr |
| Louisiana | 206 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Montana | 199 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Kansas | 194 | March | Nov–Mar |
| District of Columbia | 185 | December | Nov–Mar |
| West Virginia | 174 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Missouri | 173 | March | Nov–Mar |
| Mississippi | 156 | December | Dec–Feb |
| Nebraska | 138 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Iowa | 131 | March | Mar–Apr |
| South Dakota | 86 | April | Feb–Apr |
| Kentucky | 75 | November | Nov–Apr |
| North Dakota | 59 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Hawaii | 18 | February | Nov–Feb |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bufflehead?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from November to April.
Where is Bufflehead most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Texas.