Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Bufflehead/Wild Bird

Male bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Small ducks, buffleheads are visiting Lake Ontario from the north. Isn't the male handsome?

At a distance, bufflehead males appear to be black and white, but up close and under the right conditions you can see the "black" is actually a glossy green/purple.

Female bufflehead

Females are less colourful but - to my eyes - still quite pretty. Both spend their winter days diving for aquatic invertebrates.  Soon they will travel north to breed in northern forests close to lakes, often nesting in former holes created by northern flickers.

Male, a tad miffed

Ahem! Did someone get too close to someone else's female?
I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

42 comments:

  1. Love those iridescent feathers!!!

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  2. Widać na pierwszym zdjęciu jak pięknie Panu się mienią kolorami pióra. Pozdrawiam.
    You can see in the first picture how beautiful you are glitter pen color. Yours.

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  3. thanks for the laugh at the last shot and they are beautiful, male and female. what a colorful head.. i even like the silly name of bufflehead

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  4. I love coming here not only do I see awesome photos but I learn so much. Love those ones. B

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  5. Hi! Very beautiful photos. I enjoyed your series very much.

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  6. Nice photos of the buffleheads.

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  7. Oh, wow. What a beautiful duck!

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  8. What cute ducks and I like that name Buffleheads - great pics - Jane UK

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  9. Oh great! You captured the iridescence of his head beautifully!

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  10. Love the last "running" shot! Great photos :)

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  11. From that last shot, perhaps Spring really is in the air! (Birds and bees and all that, haha:) How lovely to see these birds, we don't get them here.

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  12. I've never seen one of these Buffaloheads...er, Buffleheads. Fascinating. And great shots, as usual!

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  13. A handsome guy. I don't think they will be heading north for awhile!

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  14. They are so pretty! Love the last shot!

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  15. WOW! You captured the exquisite beauty of the male very well.

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  16. Another interesting background tidbit on wildlife I've not seen before. Thank you. The male truly is elegant. Even when splashing!

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  17. Such a beautiful bird is this Male bufflehead, love the shots especially the running one.

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  18. That last one, the action shot, is cool!

    =)

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  19. Beautiful little ducks and the last action photo is a great capture.

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  20. He looks like he's dipped his legs in a can of red paint!

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  21. I have spent some time visiting both your blogs. You have a great way of capturing the moment. I think your work is beautiful.

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  22. Lovely your first Bufflehead shot, just beautiful! Thanks for sharing, have a great day!

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  23. Ha! You made me laugh. They both are pretty but I love the purple on him!

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  24. These are great photos. I've never seen them before and the male is very handsome!

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  25. He does look a tad miffed! lol

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  26. Enjoying all your bird shots. These ones are really great!

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  27. Wow! So colorful "heads". I just joined Audubon Society for bird walks!

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  28. I think these are handsome ducks. I really like the caption in your last photo.

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  29. I love your photo of this old barn. I also like your update.

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  30. Great looking duck. I do like the (different sized) white patches on their heads.

    Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW.

    Stewart M - Melbourne

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  31. Nice capture of the Buffle sheen!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  32. I've always thought it seems a wee bit unfair that male birds have more colourful plumage EG :) lovely shots, enjoyed the 'chase off' in the last image..

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  33. What beautiful birds! I don't think I've ever seen one of these! WOW!

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  34. Oh, my goodness...they are so beautiful. Almost don't look real.

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  35. Oh yes the male is handsome and yet the female is also very lovely!

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