Hooded Merganser - Ross Feldner

The Hooded Merganser has a really standout profile with its prominent crest, white and black on males and a rich cinnamon on females. It also sports a fairly unique bill that features serrated edges which helps it hold its often slippery and wiggling meals. Megansers are the only ducks that specialize in catching fish.

Their diet also consists of aquatic insects, fish, and crustaceans which are caught by sight under water. They have the ability to change the refractive properties of their eyes to improve their vision underwater.

Hooded Mergansers are generally found in river areas bounded by woods that support good fish populations associated with clear water.

Hooded Mergansers are tree cavity nesters and often lay their eggs in nests of other ducks, a behavior known as “brood parasitism.” Strangely, other cavity-nesting duck species also parasitize Hooded Merganser nests.

Their population has been in decline due to lost of nesting habitat requiring large older trees but they are making a comeback thanks to people putting up artificial nest boxes.