Small duck with white spot on its head

by Wayne Kuykendall
(Folsom, CA)

Unknown duck with female Common Merganser

Unknown duck alone

Currently there are a lot of these ducks on Lake Natoma near Folsom in Northern California. They've just arrived in the past few weeks so I assume they are migrating.

That is a female Common Merganser next to it so you can see it is much smaller. In addition to the white mark on the black head behind the eye it has a black eye and bill. I've checked all my sources and can't identify it. Can you help?

Comment

I believe the other duck is a female Bufflehead. It winters on lakes and rivers or saltwater bays.

Susan

Comments for Small duck with white spot on its head

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Feb 10, 2018

Same here
by: Steven

This week Feb 1st same type appeared by it's self here in Edmond, OK

Nov 15, 2010

BUFFLEHEAD
by: Anonymous

There is a saying Trust then verify so I did. There is a good picture of this duck on the website.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bufflehead

Nov 10, 2010

Thank you Susan!
by: Wayne Kuykendall

I'm sure you nailed it. I had looked and the Bufflehead but had only seen pictures of the male and it looks very different.

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