Territorial Dispute

While walking along Alameda Creek recently, I chanced upon an interesting sight: a disagreement between a couple of bufflehead ducks. I suspect that it had more to do with invading personal space, rather than a disagreement over a potential mate.

Bufflehead ducks are seasonal visitors to our area, spending the winter here, then returning to central Alaska and Canada for spring, summer, and early fall.

Female bufflehead on the left, male bufflehead on the right. The males have irredescent head feathers that are very colorful when the sunlight hits them just right.

While I was focusing on the pairof buffleheads shown above, I happened to notice another male bufflehead quickly approach from the right in a state of agitation:

Fortunately, I had the right focus point, so I quickly started snapping photos. The bufflehead is trying to bite the other's rear end!

The attack continues...

He definitely got the other buffleheads' attention, because they soon tried to get away as quickly as possible.

The first bufflehead, satisfied, breaks off the attack as the other two buffleheads continue to move away.

At the end, the first bufflehead rises up and stretches its wings...

Which is soon followed by the other two buffleheads.

I suspect that in addition to drying off wings, stretching them out may relieve stress. In the end, just another fun encounter along the trail.