This week’s patient of the week features a drake (male) Bufflehead. From a distance, these small ducks look black and white in coloring. On closer inspection, the head feathers show off a rich iridescent purple-green.
The Bufflehead was transferred to our Los Angeles Wildlife Center from the California Wildlife Center. He was found in a rural subdivision in Calabasas, CA, located in the hills west of the San Fernando Valley. He had a wound on the tip of his bill and some toe wounds from crash-landing.
Good news! After just a week in care, the Bufflehead was released back to the wild.
If you want to go find yourself a Bufflehead in the wild, Audubon has some tips.
Photo by Katrina Plummer