A small fish-eating duck of wooded ponds, the Hooded Merganser nests in holes in trees. It is frequently seen on shallow waters where its only waterfowl companion is the Wood Duck.It is a small to medium-sized duck with a long, narrow bill and a fluffy, fan-shaped crest. The male has a large white patch in the crest. A small white patch at the base of the wings is visible in flight. It has a long, somewhat pointed tail. In breeding plumage, the face is black with gold eyes, black back, rusty sides, and a white chest bordered by black and white stripes. The bill is dark with a yellow base. The Bufflehead male in breeding plumage is more white overall, lacks buffy sides, and has a larger white patch that wraps around the back of its greenish head. Female and nonbreeding male Buffleheads have distinctive oval white cheek patches.The Hooded Merganser is the second-smallest of the six living species of mergansers (only the Smew of Eurasia is smaller) and is the only one restricted to North America. In migration and in winter, it is found in a wider range of open waters, along coasts, and in shallower waters than other mergansers. The Hooded Merganser finds its prey underwater by sight. The merganser can actually change the refractive properties of its eyes to enhance its underwater vision. In addition, the nictating membrane (third eyelid) is very transparent and probably acts to protect the eye during swimming, just like a pair of goggles.It breeds in forested wetlands. Although up to 44 Common Merganser eggs have been found in one nest, one female probably does not lay more than about 13. Larger clutches result when more than one female lays eggs in a nest.(Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All About Birds (Online)). |
