The Twitcher: a birding column

A bufflehead paddles in a pond. Photo by Kai Frueh.

Bird of the week: bufflehead

A bufflehead paddles in a pond. Photo by Kai Frueh.

About: A small, cute duck. Males are white with black backs and partial hoods, while females are gray-brown with a white spot on their cheeks.

Where to find this bird: It frequents the river during migration.

When to find this bird: Mid-October–January and March–May, with some birds hanging around through February.

Fun fact: Its small size helps it breed in small nesting cavities in the boreal forests, which are usually excavated by northern flickers.