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Bufflehead


Bufflehead
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 94 N: 5542] (17634)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-10-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital JPEG
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-24 6:03
Viewed: 223
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello friends,

After a short holiday I am back.
An addition to my duck series. This photo is taken in the Northern Zoo in Emmen.

The Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is a small American sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. This species was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 as Anas albeola.

Description
The Bufflehead ranges from 32-40 cm long (12.5-16 inches) and 270-550 g (.6-1.2 lbs), with the drakes larger than the females. Averaging 35.5 cm (14 in) and 370 g (13 oz), it rivals the Green-winged Teal as the smallest American duck.
Adult males have a glossy, greenish-black head with a large white cap behind the eye and a mainly white body with a black back. Adult females have a brown head with a smaller white patch behind the eye and a mainly brown body with a light underside.
The name Bufflehead is a combination of buffalo and head, referring to the oddly bulbous head shape of the species. This is most noticeable when the male puffs out the feathers on the head, thus greatly increasing the apparent size of the head.

Distribution and habitat
They are migratory and most of them winter in protected coastal waters, or open inland waters, on the east and west coasts of North America and the southern United States. The Bufflehead is an extremely rare vagrant to western Europe. Their breeding habitat is wooded lakes and ponds in Alaska and Canada, almost entirely included in the boreal forest or taiga habitat.

Behavior
Buffleheads do not tend to collect in huge flocks; groups are usually limited to small numbers (less than 10). One duck will serve as a sentry, watching for predators as the others in the group dive in search of food. Predators of adults include Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) and Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii). Females may be killed on the nest by mammals, such as weasels (Mustela spp.) or mink (Mustela vison), and by Goldeneyes over nest competition.
Breeding
They nest in cavities in trees, often using old Flicker or Pileated Woodpecker nests, occasionally 425 m (1400 ft) from water. Nest competitors include Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), Northern Flicker, and European Starling. There was one recorded instance of a female Barrow's Goldeneye killing a Bufflehead adult female and her brood. Smaller cavities are preferred because of less competition with the larger Goldeneyes.
A clutch may range from 5 to 10 eggs. Eggs are typically about 36.3 mm (1.4 in) in breadth and 50.6 mm (2 in) in length, weighing about 37.4 g (1.3 oz) on average. The incubation period ranges from 28 to 33 days, during which the female is quite attentive. Locally, the clutch survival rate may range from 45% to 5% based on factors like cold weather, rain, competitors (i.e. grebes or other ducks) or predators (like Northern Pike). The female abandons the nest after 5 to 6 weeks, and the young fledge at 45 to 55 days of age.
Diet
These diving birds forage underwater. They prefer water depths of 1.2-4.5 m (4 to 15 ft). In freshwater habitats they eat primarily insects, and in saltwater they feed predominantly on crustaceans and mollusks. Aquatic plants and fish eggs can often become locally important food items as well.

Source: Wikipedia
anemone, marianas, horias, Argus, maurydv, zulfu, eqshannon, nglen, boreocypriensis, ferranjlloret, goatman04, efsus, Gert-Paassen, jmirah, siggi, Noisette, anel, goldyrs, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Peter
Lovely phot of this cute duck.
Composition is super.
TFS.
Kind regards,
Özgür

Ciao Peter, great capture of lovely duck, splendid sharpness and fine details, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Peter
What a little cute duck!
Great details ,lovely colors!
Mariana

Peter
Lovely little duck!
Great details!
Horia

hallo peter
ik dachtal dat je weg was in de herfst vakantie
meteen maar een mooi plaaatje geplaatst
mooi eend en super details
een BEAUTY!!
groetjes lou

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3821 W: 190 N: 11376] (35063)
  • [2009-10-24 7:42]

Hello Peter,
I hope you had a good break.
This is a fine capture of an American Bufflehead male that looks like it has just shaken its plumage, the drops of water and slighly ruffled plumage being clear in this sharp image. The POV, colours and lighting contribute to a fine portrait of this species.
Thanks and enjoy the rest of the WE!
Ivan

Hi Peter. Good details and sharp fot this litlle duck. Beautiful colours too.

Roberto

Hello Peter,
a beautiful picture of the Bufflehead taken from an excellent POV, good sharpness and very beautiful natural colours, i like the close composition
TFS
Have a good weekend
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1063 W: 0 N: 162] (868)
  • [2009-10-24 8:50]

Hello Peter, lovely shot of this cute duck with nice composition.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 649 W: 15 N: 1607] (6263)
  • [2009-10-24 8:57]

Hello Peter
Cute duck capture with excellent details and natural colors
Regards
Razvan

Well isn't that the cute one with it small droplets of water all over...of course..it's a duck and weather is for the ducks! If it isn't wet enough they dive...good capture my friend!
bob

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2912 W: 34 N: 8640] (32202)
  • [2009-10-24 12:13]

Hi Peter. Good to see you hope yopu had a good time on hoilday. This is a new one on me A cute looking little thing. The Bufflehead has unusual colours arouund the head area. Taken with good detail. TFS.
Nick..

Hi Peter,

Welcome bact with this great capture of this cute beauty from wonderful POV with great clarity and delightful composition.
TFS and have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Perter,
good composition and capture of the Bufflehead, have a nice WE.
Ferran

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-10-24 16:33]

Hi Peter,welcome back.There is a perfum of cold autumn inside this pic,the atmosphere and the colors too are typicals of this season,excellent sharpness on this new duck of your interesting collection.Thanks for your work,have a nice Sunday,LUCIANO

Hello Peter,

This is really a great & beautiful capture of this Bufflehead with lovely coloration, sharpness & BG.

Very nicely done & TFS.

Regards

Umar

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 10 N: 738] (3210)
  • [2009-10-24 21:43]

Merhaba Peter!
Oldukça sevimli görünen bir kuş. Keskinlik ve ayrıntılar çok başarılı, tebrikler.

Hüseyin

Hallo Petr,

wat een mooie foto is dit.
ken deze soort niet en volgens mij de eerste keer dat ik hem zie.
Goede detailering in de veren en mooie kleuren.
Gert

Hello Peter.
this is a samll and beautiful duck and we can see it's related to the Goldeneye.
It's well exposed, details both in the black and white are well seen.
Well done, mf.

Regards
Gert

  • Great 
  • jmirah Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 506 W: 5 N: 1135] (4665)
  • [2009-10-25 10:22]

Hi Peter
A lovely photo...Beautiful subject, great composition...TFS
Jim

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1378 W: 56 N: 4747] (16330)
  • [2009-10-25 13:50]

Hello Peter,
Fantastic capture, very good sharpness and depth of field, beautiful vivid colors and superb contrast, excellent details in the plummage, lovely catchlight in the eye.
Best regards Siggi

Hello Peter
another beautiful and very special duck, you have taken it from a good POV showing his wonderful plumage, great details
I like the water droplets on his face and Back
Have a good night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1725 W: 0 N: 3924] (15760)
  • [2009-10-26 5:07]

Hello Peter,
This is a cute little duck with a very compact body and wonderful colors, especially on the head. Very pleasing presentation. On my screen the picture lacks a little bit of sharpness.
Thanks also for the interesting note. I didn't know this species until now.
Kind regards
nne

A very well timed shot,Peter!I love the shiny colours here!
Bravo!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5672] (18539)
  • [2009-10-27 10:02]

Hi Peter.
What a cute little creature you managed to catch so amazingly. Charming bird, excellent exposure of the image and reproduction contrast colouration of the feathers. Details of the bird and image of the water surface with attractive small waves are looked superbly. Well done and TFS.
Alexei.

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