Our winter residents will be showing up very soon! Keep an eye out for the striking black-and-white Bufflehead Ducks, which have been wintering here at Chickasaw Bluff Lakes for as long as many of us can remember.
These beautiful little diving ducks typically arrive around November 14th, give or take a day or two. According to Wikipedia, they are “one of the world’s most punctual migrants, arriving on their wintering grounds within a narrow margin of time.”
✈️ Small Ducks, Long Journeys
Buffleheads spend their summers breeding in Alaska and Canada, often nesting in tree cavities created by Northern Flicker woodpeckers. The pair bond together for life — unlike most duck species, Buffleheads are monogamous and return to the same nesting areas (and often the same mate) year after year.
Despite their tiny size — only about 13 inches long and weighing less than a pound — they travel over 2,000 milesbetween their northern breeding grounds and their southern wintering homes like Chickasaw Bluff Lakes.
🎨 Spotting the Differences
The males are easy to recognize: bright white bodies, glossy black backs, and an iridescent head that shimmers green, purple, and blue in the sunlight. Females and juveniles are more subdued, with gray-brown plumage and a distinctive small white patch on the cheek.
If you look closely, you’ll notice how compact they are — they have the smallest body of any diving duck in North America, which helps them maneuver quickly underwater as they hunt for food.
🍽 What’s on the Menu?
Buffleheads are expert divers. They feed mostly on aquatic insects, small crustaceans, snails, and seeds, depending on what’s available. They can dive for 10–25 seconds at a time, using their small wings to “fly” underwater and their strong legs to steer.
When feeding in groups, they often take turns — one acts as a lookout while the others dive, a behavior that makes them fun to watch from the shore.
💨 Why They’re So Shy
If you’ve ever tried to sneak closer for a picture, you know how quickly they spook! Buffleheads are naturally wary — they prefer quiet lakes and ponds with minimal disturbance. Sudden movement or noise can send the entire flock flying off in a flash of white wings.
So if you’re hoping to observe them up close, the best way is to stay still at a distance with binoculars or a camera lens and let them come to you.
💕 A Growing Tradition
Each year, the little flock that calls Chickasaw Bluff home seems to grow just a bit larger. It’s always exciting to spot the first arrivals of the season — a sure sign that cooler weather has truly arrived. Watching them dive and dart across the water has become one of those small joys of winter life in our community.
And if you happen to capture a good photo, we’d love to see it! Send your pictures to cblma.ms@gmail.com so we can share them on the website.
