bufflehead

[ buhf-uhl-hed ]

noun

1. a small North American duck, Bucephala albeola, the male of which has bushy head plumage.

bufflehead

/ ˈbʌfəlˌhɛd /

noun

1. a small North American diving duck, Bucephala (or Glaucionetta ) albeola : the male has black-and-white plumage and a fluffy head Also calledbutterball

Other Words From

• buffle·headed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bufflehead¹

1855–60, Americanism; buffle ( buff ¹ ) + head

Word History and Origins

Origin of bufflehead¹

C17 buffle from obsolete buffle wild ox (see buff ¹), referring to the duck's head

Example Sentences

Potential bird sightings include gadwalls and buffleheads, dazzling ducks like the common goldeneye and the red-breasted merganser and tons of gulls, including the laughing gull and the ring-billed gull.

From New York Times

In addition to Canada geese and mallards, in recent weeks Birky Pond has hosted hooded mergansers, bufflehead, redhead ducks, canvasbacks, northern shovelers, scaup and ring-necked ducks, to name a few.

From Washington Times

“It was all different species - mostly bluebills, but there were mallards, buffleheads, teal. It must have been an epic migration.”

From Washington Times

“It was all different species — mostly bluebills, but there were mallards, buffleheads, teal. It must have been an epic migration.”

From Seattle Times

And, in fact some swimmers do come in the winter: buffleheads, ring-necked ducks, mergansers and other waterfowl visiting from the north.

From New York Times