Image of pair, ornithology, pond - 66859785 This Hooded Merganser is wearing the typical juvenile (=first basic) plumage of the species. Black-bellied … North American Breeding Distribution and Relative Abundance: The Hooded Merganser is broadly distributed across the eastern half of the United States, with a … Using the binoculars to hone in more closely, it became obvious that this … A - Z. App. When in breeding plumage, the males have an unmistakably large white crest outlined in black, creating an attractive contrast. Females get their own distinctive elegance from their cinnamon crest. Mill Creek Marsh, with its vast array of wildlife, never ceases to amaze visitors of nature’s wonders, right here in the great metropolis. In addition, the New York City skyscrapers to the east can also be quite rewarding, with varying moods at any given time. In the case of the Common Merganser, the males will leave the incubation site shortly after mating. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. Other ducks, geese and swans. From Gregg: I've been spending my time following a group of Hooded Mergansers in a winter flock, about 12-15 males and 3-4 females. Absolutely. Picture a small duck with chestnut sides, a black back, and a white breast striped with black. Wood Duck on a golden pond. It is one of the most fascinating landscapes for photographers and nature enthusiasts. The hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is a species of merganser.It is the only extant species in the genus Lophodytes.The genus name derives from the Greek language: lophos meaning 'crest', and dutes meaning 'diver'. call. Hooded mergansers breed locally in Maryland with mating calls resembling low frog-like croaks. Breeding and Nesting. Rapid direct flight with fast wing beats. The nictating membrane (third eyelid) is clear and acts to protect the eye during swimming, just like a pair of goggles. Black scoter. Several days after the down-covered ducklings hatch, they will follow the mother to look for food, and will fledge by the time they are 10 weeks old. Incubation is by the female alone and lasts for 26 to 41 days, averaging 33 days. Although its non-breeding coloring is less vibrant, consisting more of dark browns and grays, the male's breeding colors are striking. Hooded Merganser are not on the 2016 State of North America's Birds Watch List. The bird raises its distinctive head crest into a rounded, fan shape during mating displays. Then I noticed some familiar behavior. Hooded Merganser Mating Ritual (5 of 5, See Parts 1-4) on Cold Day in Autumn at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus, NJ (Meadowlands) Toward the end of the walk on this cold autumn day at the MARSH, seen in the distance was a large group of Hooded Mergansers engaged in some type of ritual. The species rates a 9 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score. Hooded Merganser: This small merganser has black upperparts, white underparts with two black bars on side of breast, and red-brown flanks. The crest shows a large white patch when raised; white stripe extends backwards from eye when lowered. Feeds on fish and aquatic insects. Mike's Birds. Hooded merganser Photo by Chuck Dresner . By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. The top of the head, neck and back are all black, and the chest, breast and belly are white. In 1996, on 29 April, Cat Anderson observed a female with five ducklings swimming on a pond next to the Highline Canal. Hooded Merganser. Females and immature males are brown overall with a puffy crest and a thin orange stripe along the bottom of the bill. . The next winter, as she cleaned a next box at the pond, she found four eggs--two of Wood duck and two of Hooded Merganser. This is usually around the end of December. The Hooded Merganser finds its prey underwater by sight. Like most ducks, these guys don't like people and move quite as far away as they can. The Hooded Merganser nests in forested wetlands throughout its range. These two observations at last verify breeding by Hooded Mergansers in Colorado. Males use their crest in courtship rituals and displays. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) Saffron … That was pretty interesting. The kind of forest used for nesting varies from spruce/fur to cottonwood/elder and oak/cypress/tupelo, depending on the geographic location. I observed a group … The male usually swims ahead of the female with his tail cocked at … Though not listed as endangered, the future for this species may not be optimistic. Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus Range map: Breeding Data provided by eBird. (8) Tail-cocking. Search. The male Hooded Merganser leaves the female bird in the nest for the incubation period. However, they wouldn’t nest until mid-February. 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