Buffleheads are small diving ducks that are found across North America. They are migratory birds, breeding in Canada and the northern United States and wintering farther south. In summer, Buffleheads undergo an annual migration north to their breeding grounds. So where exactly do these striking ducks go for the summer months?
Buffleheads spend summers breeding across Canada and Alaska
During the summer breeding season, Buffleheads are found predominantly in Canada and Alaska. Their breeding range extends from central Alaska across Canada to central Ontario and Quebec, and also down into the northern United States including parts of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and northern New England.
Buffleheads nest near ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams and rivers with dense vegetation on the banks. They favor areas with mature coniferous or mixed forests nearby. The females build nests in tree cavities, often old nesting holes made by Northern Flickers. Buffleheads are one of the few duck species that use tree cavities for nesting.
Key breeding areas in Canada
Some of the key summer breeding areas for Buffleheads in Canada include:
- Central and northern British Columbia
- Southern Yukon Territory
- Alberta near the Rocky Mountains
- Much of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario
- Southern Quebec near the St. Lawrence River Valley
Buffleheads can be found nesting across these regions of Canada during the summer months while they breed and raise their young before migrating back south.
Breeding range extends into Alaska
The Bufflehead’s northern breeding range also extends into Alaska. They breed across much of mainland Alaska as well as on some coastal islands in the southeast. Some key summer breeding hotspots in Alaska include:
- The interior around Fairbanks
- Denali National Park and Preserve
- Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge
- Kenai Peninsula
- Kodiak Island
The abundant lakes, ponds, and nesting sites in these Alaskan regions provide prime breeding habitat for Buffleheads each summer.
They also breed in the northern United States
While the majority of the North American Bufflehead population summers in Canada and Alaska, their breeding range also extends down into the northern United States. Here they can be found nesting in summer across parts of:
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Maine
- New York
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
Some key wetland breeding areas in these states include Flathead Lake in Montana, Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota, Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Michigan, and Lake Champlain along the New York-Vermont border.
They inhabit forested wetlands
Across their breeding range, Buffleheads seek out small forested wetlands, beaver ponds, wooded lakes, and slow-moving streams and rivers. These productive waterways are often surrounded by mature stands of conifers or mixed forests, which provide nesting cavities in old trees.
The abundance of aquatic insects on their breeding grounds provides food for female Buffleheads and their young. Nest sites with nearby protective cover allow them to breed and raise ducklings during the short northern summer.
Migration north begins in spring
Buffleheads begin migrating north from their wintering grounds as early as February and March. The males arrive at the breeding areas first to establish territories, followed by the females weeks later.
Early spring migration takes Buffleheads through the Great Lakes region and into southern Canada by April. From there they continue farther north, arriving on their breeding grounds by May and June as ice melts on the lakes and ponds.
The spring migration happens quickly, with Buffleheads travelling 50-100 miles in a day. They fly night and day, stopping to rest and feed on migratory stopover sites.
Stopovers provide food and rest
Key stopover sites used by Buffleheads during spring migration include:
- Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan
- Lake Winnipegosis, Manitoba
- Lower Saskatchewan River, Alberta
- Lake Athabasca, between Alberta and Saskatchewan
- Peace-Athabasca Delta, Alberta
These productive lakes and inland deltas provide important staging areas. Buffleheads stop to feed heavily, building up energy reserves to continue their northward journey and prepare for breeding.
Autumn migration flies south
After breeding and rearing young on their summer grounds, Buffleheads begin migrating south again in the fall starting in September. The males depart first, followed by females and juveniles when ducklings are able to fly.
Fall migration continues through October and November. Buffleheads form large flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands, as they migrate south along major flyways over the continental United States.
They travel along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, through the Mississippi and Central flyways, and down the Great Lakes region, stopping to rest and feed at key wetland habitat along their route.
Important stopovers and winter sites
Some key stopover and wintering sites for Buffleheads include:
- Lake St. Clair near Michigan and Ontario
- Western Lake Erie
- Chesapeake Bay
- San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay
- Puget Sound
Buffleheads overwinter as far south as northern Mexico and Baja California, as well as throughout the southern United States. They can be found wintering on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the Great Lakes, and inland across the southern U.S.
Conclusion
In summary, Buffleheads are migratory diving ducks that breed predominantly across Canada and Alaska and travel south to winter in the United States and Mexico. Their key summer breeding range spans from central Alaska across northern Canada. They inhabit wooded lakes, ponds, and streams surrounded by coniferous or mixed forests.
Buffleheads undergo an annual northward migration in spring, stopping at key wetlands to rest and feed. In autumn, they migrate south again in large flocks, dispersing across suitable wintering habitat. Their ability to travel these vast distances allows Buffleheads to take advantage of abundant seasonal food resources and breeding habitat across North America.
