The Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is a species of sea duck native to most of Canada and Alaska, both coastlines and freshwater locations. They are the smallest sea duck native to North America. Unlike most ducks, which eat water plants, sea ducks specialize in eating mollusks and crustaceans like mussels and crabs. They'll also eat fish eggs, insects, and some water plants, too. They get their names for the white fluffy patch of feathers on the back of the males heads, which resemble the head of a bison or buffalo head. They are a great source of food for predators like minks, hawks, bald eagles, coyotes, bobcats, peregrine falcons, prairie falcons, snowy owls, golden eagles, and the occasional river otter.
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