Bufflehead

Description:

Smaller of the diving ducks, males with an iridescent green and purple heads and a large white patch that starts from behind the eyes wraps to the back of their head. Dark colored back and white flanks and chest. Females have dark colored heads and a small patch of white behind the eyes. Backs a dark grey with lighter grey on flanks and chest. The feed on insects in freshwater and crustaceans, mollusks and aquatic plants.

Habitat:

Migratory birds from Alaska and Canada they can be found in lakes and near the coast where they nest in old Northern Flicker holes in trees. Wintering in south they can be found in shallower lakes, deltas and coastline.

Notes:

Spotted these in San Francisco Bay at the San Leandro Marina. Diving birds are tough to photograph because of their constant diving. This day was a very productive day for me.