Diving duck · Duck ID

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola · A tiny diver. Drakes are mostly white with a big white patch on a dark head.

Drake. Photo: Don Faulkner · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

Length: 13–16 in
Weight: 0.6–1.3 lb
Wingspan: 21 in
Group: Diving duck

Typical adult size. Drakes run larger than hens.

Field marks

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.

Photos

Bufflehead gallery

Bufflehead: Hen — **Hen**Mdf · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Bufflehead: Drake in flight — **Drake in flight**Bill Bouton from San Luis Obispo, CA, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

Bufflehead: Drake and hen — **Drake and hen**ALAN SCHMIERER · CC0 · source

2026-27 bag limits

Bufflehead limits in six Mid-South states

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
LouisianaEast Zone Nov 21–Dec 6 and Dec 19–Jan 31; West Zone Nov 14–Dec 6 and Dec 19–Jan 24	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	LDWF Seasons and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 Louisiana rules
MissouriNorth Oct 31–Dec 29; Middle Nov 7–Dec 13 and Dec 19–Jan 10; South Nov 26–29 and Dec 7–Jan 31	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	MDC 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest · checked Oct 22, 2026 Missouri rules
KentuckyNov 26–29; Dec 7, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	Counts toward the 6-duck daily total, no separate limit	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	KDFWR 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide · checked Oct 22, 2026 Kentucky 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 and Missouri set duck seasons by zone; the dates shown are for every zone.

Mid-South