Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola · A tiny diver. Drakes are mostly white with a big white patch on a dark head.
- Length
- 13–16 in
- Weight
- 0.6–1.3 lb
- Wingspan
- 21 in
- Group
- Diving duck
Typical adult size. Drakes run larger than hens.
How to identify a bufflehead
Drake
Small and mostly white with a black back and a large white wedge on the back of a dark, glossy green-and-purple head.
Hen
Gray-brown with a neat white oval patch on the cheek behind the eye.
In flight
Fast, buzzy wingbeats low over the water. Drakes show big white wing patches.
Look-alikes
- Hooded merganser: Hooded merganser drakes have a fan crest outlined in black, chestnut sides and a thin bill.
Bufflehead gallery
Bufflehead limits in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas
| State | Bufflehead daily limit | Possession | Total daily ducks | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MississippiNov 27–29; Dec 4–6; Dec 9, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit | 3 times the daily limit Not confirmed Opening-day possession wording in the Digest (check the official source) | 6 ducks a day | MDWFP Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits · checked Oct 22, 2026 Mississippi rules |
| TennesseeNov 28–29; Dec 5, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit | 3 times the daily limit, except 1 times on opening day and 2 times on the second day | 6 ducks a day | TWRA Waterfowl and Migratory Birds · checked Oct 22, 2026 Tennessee rules |
| ArkansasNov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit | 3 times the daily limit | 6 ducks a day | AGFC Waterfowl Season Dates, Rules and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 Arkansas rules |
Regular-season limits from each state’s official 2026-27 regulations. Possession limits count birds at home too. Federal rules apply on top of state rules, and some WMAs and refuges set stricter limits. Louisiana limits are on the Louisiana rules page.
When and where on public land
Timing
Arrives in November and December and stays through winter on open water.
Habitat
Open lakes, river backwaters and reservoirs. They dive constantly and rarely come to decoys in timber.
More diving ducks
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