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

Click here to add your own comments

Feb 10, 2018

Same here NEW
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.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to What Is This Bird?.