Buffleheads are the smallest diving duck in North America, about the size of a small grebe.
They almost exclusively nest in old Northern Flicker holes in aspen and pine. They can't excavate their own.
Their name comes from the disproportionately large head ('buffalo head'), especially obvious on males.
Buffleheads use small Wood-Duck-style nest boxes near small clear lakes in boreal country.
Mount a 3" hole box 6–15 ft up on a tree near a small lake or pond. Wood shavings inside.
Aquatic invertebrates and small fish, they dive.
Clear cold lake or pond.
Don't expect them outside the boreal lake region; they're a north-country specialty.
A small North American diving duck that breeds in northern boreal forest near small lakes.
Common breeder across Canada and Alaska wherever Flicker holes occur near lakes.
Local breeder in northern Montana, Idaho, and western states.
Massive winter flocks along both US coasts and through inland waters.
Small clear lakes and ponds in boreal forest; winter on coastal bays, estuaries, and inland reservoirs.
This species needs a box larger or differently-shaped than our three standard sizes. We make these as one-off prints to the published nest dimensions, with all the species-specific requirements baked in.
North America's smallest cavity-nesting duck; naturally reuses old Northern Flicker holes.