A buffalo and a bison are not the same animal. The simplest, accurate distinction is this:

  • Bison are native to North America and Europe.
  • Buffalo are native to Africa and Asia.

What most people in the United States casually call a “buffalo” - including the famous American “buffalo” - is actually a bison. True buffalo live on different continents, look different, and evolved separately.

So when someone says “American buffalo,” they are using a common name, not a biologically correct one.

This question resurfaces globally for a few consistent reasons:

  • Nature documentaries and streaming content increasingly use precise terminology, correcting “buffalo” to “bison.”
  • School assignments and trivia content often highlight common misconceptions.
  • Social media posts and short videos regularly point out “things you didn’t know,” including animal misnaming.
  • Tourism and wildlife parks now emphasize accurate species labels, prompting curiosity.

In short, people are noticing the mismatch between everyday language and scientific classification.

What’s Confirmed vs. What’s Unclear

Confirmed Facts

  • American bison (Bison bison) live in North America.
  • European bison (wisent) live in parts of Europe.
  • African buffalo and Asian water buffalo are different species entirely.
  • Bison and buffalo cannot interbreed; they are biologically distinct.

What’s Unclear or Often Confused

  • The term “buffalo” has no single scientific meaning; it’s a historical and cultural label.
  • Early European settlers used familiar words (“buffalo”) for unfamiliar animals, and the name stuck.

What People Are Getting Wrong

  1. “They’re just different names for the same animal.” Incorrect. They are different species with different evolutionary histories.

  2. “American buffalo is the correct name.” Culturally common, scientifically wrong. The correct term is American bison.

  3. “Buffalo and bison look basically the same.” They do not, once you know what to look for:

    • Bison have a large shoulder hump, thick fur, and short curved horns.
    • Buffalo have smoother coats, longer horns, and no shoulder hump.

Real-World Impact (Everyday Scenarios)

  • Education: A student using “buffalo” in a biology exam may lose marks if accuracy matters.
  • Travel & wildlife tourism: Visitors to U.S. national parks often assume they’re seeing buffalo; park signage correctly identifies bison.
  • Business & branding: Sports teams, products, and logos often use “buffalo” for tradition, not accuracy (e.g., Buffalo Bills).

In most casual conversations, the misuse causes no harm - but in scientific, educational, or professional contexts, precision matters.

Benefits, Risks & Limitations

Benefits of Understanding the Difference

  • Improves scientific literacy
  • Avoids embarrassment in academic or professional settings
  • Helps people interpret documentaries and educational content correctly

Risks of Confusion

  • Spreading misinformation, especially online
  • Mislabeling animals in educational or commercial material

Limitations

  • Common language is slow to change. “Buffalo” will likely remain popular in North America regardless of accuracy.

What to Watch Next

Expect continued efforts by educators, wildlife organizations, and museums to normalize correct terminology. You’ll likely see “bison” used more often in official contexts, even if everyday speech lags behind.

What You Can Ignore Safely

You do not need to correct everyone who says “buffalo” in casual conversation. In informal settings, the meaning is usually clear. Precision only becomes necessary when accuracy is the goal.

Is a water buffalo a bison? No. Water buffalo are native to Asia and are true buffalo, not bison.

Did Native Americans call them buffalo? No. Indigenous names varied by tribe. “Buffalo” came from European settlers.

Why hasn’t the name changed officially in the U.S.? Because common names are cultural, not regulated by science.