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    Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Bufflehead LK c c c =..           .. =c c
Merganser, Common LK .... .... .... ..           .. ..- -..
Merganser, Hooded LK -- .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ..- -- --

Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola.
October 26 to April 24. Fairly common migrant and local winter resident that is found most regularly at Lake Fayetteville and much less often elsewhere. Small flocks of a dozen or more birds remain throughout the winter at Lake Fayetteville. Buffleheads, however, were absent during the severe cold of December 1983-January 1984, returning again with milder weather.

Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus.
October 26 to February 20+ Infrequently reported migrant and winter visitor in small numbers. The eight birds seen in the Tucker Holler area of Bull Shoals Lake November 24, 1981 to December 6, 1981, was a relatively high count, as was the seven at Lake Fayetteville on November 10, 1985 and 10 on Lake Frances November 16, 1986. There have also been several summer records of single birds on ponds at the state fish hatchery in Benton County in June, and an adult female with young on Beaver Lake. The species seems to prefer the quiet, undisturbed coves of forested impoundments.

Common Merganser, Mergus merganser.
October 26 to April 1. Uncommon to somewhat rare migrant and winter visitor in small numbers.

Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator.
november 14 to May 12. Uncommon migrant and winter visitor, usually in small numbers. Most reports for the region have been obtained during the 1980s. A flock of 14 was on Lake Fayetteville on November 23, 1983, and 12 were seen on Lake Frances on April 15, 1984