The Bufflehead is a small duck found across North America. The male has a large white patch that covers the back of the head, a dark iridescent head, and a white back. The female has a gray-brown head and body. Buffleheads make a variety of vocalizations, but are perhaps best known for the male’s distinctive “bup bup bup” mating call. In this article, we will explore the different noises and vocalizations made by the Bufflehead duck.
Male Bufflehead Vocalizations
The male Bufflehead has several distinct vocalizations used during courtship and breeding.
Bup Call
The most recognizable vocalization of the male Bufflehead is the “bup bup bup” or “burp” call. This is a three-syllable call that sounds like “bup-bup-bup” or “purr-purr-purr.” It is made during courtship rituals like head bobbing to attract females. This distinctive call gives the Bufflehead its name and is made almost exclusively by males during the breeding season. It carries well over water and serves to attract females and establish territories.
Squeaking Call
Male Buffleheads also make a high-pitched squeaking noise during courtship displays. It is a shorter call than the bup sound, sounding like a quick “peep” or “squeak.” They make this peeping call when pursuing or displaying to females in the water. The squeaking call is made in unison with courtship rituals like water-flicking.
Grunting Call
A low, gravelly grunting sound is made by male Buffleheads when threatening or defending territories from other males. It is a grunting noise that sounds like “urrr” or “err.” The defensive grunt call signals aggression and hostility when used during encounters or fights over mates.
Female Bufflehead Vocalizations
Female Buffleheads are not as vocal as males during the breeding season. But they do make some quiet calls when interacting with males or young.
Quacking Call
The female’s most common call is a relatively quiet quacking noise. This sounds like a muffled version of a female Mallard’s classic “quack quack” call at a very low volume. Females quack occasionally when in the presence of males or ducklings. Their quacks are hoarse, raspy, and muted compared to other duck species.
Growling Call
Females use a low growling call to communicate with ducklings. This is a guttural rolling noise that guides the ducklings to the female’s location. It is thought to help the ducklings identify the female’s position when they cannot see her.
Alarm Call
When alerting ducklings to danger, the female Bufflehead may make an alarm or warning call. This is a harsh, low-pitched rapid quacking or growling noise. It signals ducklings to hide or move away from a predator or threat that the mother has detected nearby.
Bufflehead Duckling Vocalizations
Bufflehead ducklings use high-pitched peeping calls to communicate with their mother and siblings in the brood. These include:
Contact Calls
Ducklings make a constant, high-pitched peeping noise that keeps the brood together. This contact call allows ducklings to identify each other’s location as they forage and move together. It sounds like a repetitive short whistle or squeak.
Distress Calls
Harsher, louder peeping is used by ducklings when they become separated from the brood or are in distress. The loud distress calling helps the mother locate the duckling. It may also draw the attention of predators, however.
Feeding Calls
When begging for food, Bufflehead ducklings make a rapid, rhythmic peeping directed at the mother. These food calls are louder and faster than normal contact peeps to signal hunger. The mother is then stimulated to find food for her chicks.
When Are Buffleheads Most Vocal?
The vocalizations of Buffleheads vary throughout the seasons:
Breeding Season
Buffleheads are most vocal during the breeding season from late winter to early summer. Males make bupping, squeaking, and grunting mating calls, while females quack to communicate with males and ducklings.
Migration
Buffleheads are relatively quiet during migration. But some contact calls may be made to maintain bonds between mates, parents, and young.
Winter
In their wintering habitat, Buffleheads are fairly quiet. They become more vocal again in early spring as courtship and breeding activity picks up.
Functions of Bufflehead Vocalizations
The diverse vocalizations of the Bufflehead serve a variety of purposes:
Attracting Mates
Male courtship calls like bupping and squeaking get female attention for mating.
Defending Territories
The male’s grunting call warns other males away from his nesting territory.
Strengthening Bonds
Female quacking and duckling peeping maintains contact between parents and young.
Alarming Ducklings
Harsh female warning calls alert ducklings to nearby danger.
Begging for Food
Rapid duckling peeping stimulates the female to find food for her brood.
Staying Together
Constant low peeping allows the female and ducklings to keep track of each other’s location.
How Loud is the Bufflehead Call?
The volume of Bufflehead vocalizations varies:
Male Calling
The male bup call can reach 90 decibels. This is approximately as loud as a lawnmower. The squeaking and grunting calls are quieter at 60-70 dB.
Female Vocalizations
Female quacking carries only 30-50 dB, much quieter than the male’s display calls.
Duckling Peeps
Duckling contact calls are around 50 dB. Distress calls may reach up to 75-80 dB.
Where are Buffleheads Most Vocal?
Habitat influences where Buffleheads vocalize:
Breeding Habitat
Males call from ponds and wetlands to attract mates during breeding season.
Nest Sites
Females quack softly at the nest cavity when interacting with ducklings.
Brood Foraging Areas
Ducklings peep constantly while travelling and foraging with the female parent.
Wintering Habitat
Buffleheads are mostly quiet when in coastal wintering areas.
Migration Stopover Sites
Some contact calling occurs between mates and offspring during migration.
Unique Adaptations for Bufflehead Calling
Buffleheads possess some special traits that aid their vocalizations:
Male Head Shape
The bulbous shape of the male’s head with large nares may help amplify and resonate courtship calls.
Female Vocal Anatomy
The female has a thicker tongue and wider glottis compared to males. This may contribute to her quieter, raspy calls.
Duckling Voice Box
The duckling’s vocal anatomy allows high-pitched peeping that is well-suited for communicating with the female parent over short distances.
Regional Differences in Bufflehead Vocalizations
There are some subtle geographic variations in Bufflehead vocalizations across North America:
Western Buffleheads
Males in western regions have a slightly higher-pitched bup call averaging 2.7 kHz.
Eastern Buffleheads
Eastern males produce a deeper bup call of 2.4 kHz on average.
Northern Buffleheads
In northern areas, female quacking takes on a fast-paced rattling quality.
Southern Buffleheads
Southern females have slower, more widely spaced quacks.
Mimicking Bufflehead Calls
The unique vocalizations of the Bufflehead can be mimicked to attract birds:
Mimicking Male Calls
Males can be lured by playing or mimicking bup, squeak, and grunt calls.
Mimicking Female Calls
Recreating female quacking and growling may attract males looking for mates.
Mimicking Duckling Peeps
Imitating duckling distress calls could draw the attention of concerned females.
However, mimicking should only be done with care and ethics in mind. Overuse of calling devices could disrupt natural behaviors.
Conclusion
In summary, the small but vocal Bufflehead duck has a range of sounds and calls that facilitate breeding, territoriality, and parent-offspring communication. The male’s bupping mating call is the most famous. But each sex and ducklings use unique vocalizations suited to their roles in the Bufflehead’s life cycle. Understanding their vocal abilities provides insight into their ecology and behavior. Looking ahead, further study of regional and individual variations in Bufflehead vocalizations would add to our knowledge of how these waterfowl communicate.