Bufflehead x Common Goldeneye Hybrid Winters for over a Decade in the Sacramento Region, California

An adult male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) x Common Goldeneye (B. clangula) hybrid was observed annually in winter in the Sacramento, California, region from 2014 through 2024, a noteworthy record of longevity. The bird was seen annually, with most observations within a 2-km segment of the American River. During two winters over 2022–2024, it was also seen intermittently on a nearby pond in West Sacramento. The hybrid showed intermediate characteristics of both possible parents in size and plumage, and it associated almost exclusively with Common Goldeneyes, as is typical for this hybrid type. The lifespan of this hybrid is unusually long compared to either parent species.