Duck Identification

[gweenhead44]

I recently had some ducks on a pond that I own. It is approximately a 7 acre pond and these particular ducks were across the pond from me. I live in the Columbia SC area which is the SE part of the US. The ducks were white with a black head and upper body. The belly was bright white with a white spot on the back of the head. Judging by the look and comparing them to pictures they resemble a bufflehead. I am not sure the size of a bufflehead but these ducks were comparable to a mallard in body size...Is it possible that these were buffleheads or some other species? They kinda favored the Goldeneye but had a white spot approximately the size of a golfball on the back of the head. Any ideas? Any help is greatly apprecitated.

[jamesmc]

Sounds like buffleheads to me. There isn't another duck that looks anything like them. They are small (probably no more than 12 inches from beak to tail). Did they look like my avatar??

[waterfowlwizard]

definitely not a bufflehead if it was even close to being the size of a mallard. sounds like one of those muscovy ducks, but i could be wrong. probably a goldeneye or a merganser. they are closer to the size of a mallard.

[Heronk]

possibly a drake hooded merganser

[Charlie Sawdey]

I would also say goldeneye.

[John Walls]

probubly a Hooded merganzer. my dad always gets them mixed with buffles

[mike.]

did it look like this
http://www.ducks.org/media/_global/_images/waterfowlGallery/Hooded%20Merganser.jpg
or like this http://www.nps.gov/pais/naturescience/images/male_bufflehead-wikimedia_commons.jpg