Hooded Merganser – Length: 18 inches, Wing span: 24 inches
The Hooded Merganser’s distribution is more limited than that of other mergansers, and its body size is smaller as well. Hooded Mergansers are cavity nesters, and will use nest boxes quite readily. In some areas they commonly use Wood Duck nest boxes.
The eggs of Hooded Mergansers are unusually thick-shelled, and unusually round in shape, though it is not known why these traits occur. Young birds have longer claws than most other ducks to help them climb out of the nest cavity.
Photograph © Glenn Bartley.
The male in breeding plumage is distinctive and not easily confused with other species. Black head and neck with large white patch on the side of the head. The crest of the male may be up, as in this photo, or down as in the initial photograph. Black back, rufous flanks and white belly, White neck with black bands. Note the small, black bill.
Females have brownish flanks and darker brown upperparts, a brown head, and a reddish crest that can be raised or lowered. Notice the tail, which can also be up or down. Photograph © Alan Wilson.
The male is easy to identify from almost any angle. Female Common Mergansers also have a crest trailing from the head, but it tends to be more ragged in appearance. Hooded Merganser is much smaller than the Common Merganser. Photograph © Steve Wolfe.
A beautiful bird. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
Males have reddish flanks with two black vertical bars at the front, black upperparts, a black face, and large white crest on the rear of the head that can be raised or lowered. The short tail can be up or down. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
First spring males, females and males in non-breeding plumage are similar. All dark bill may indicate this is a male. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
This bird has a minimum crest and white on the face near the base of the bill. May indicate this is a young bird. The bill shape confirms it is a merganser. Overall body shape indicates Hooded. Bill of female is dark above, orange below. Other mergansers have reddish bill. Photograph © Alan Wilson.
The white wing patches are visible when the merganser stretches. The black and yellow bill indicate this is a female but the white wing patches seem much stronger than on the females shown in flight below. Photograph © Glenn Bartley.
In flight, the crest of the male may be down, creating a thin, white line on the head. The image below shows a male landing with the crest up. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
Photograph © Glenn Bartley.
Narrow, pointed wings. Wing beats are rapid. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
Note white belly and limited white on wing linings. Crest may or may not be visible. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
How many species can you see in this photograph? Scroll down for the answer. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
(White-faced Ibis, Mottled Duck, male and female Hooded Merganser, and American Coot.)