On a calm, gray body of water, an adult male Hooded Merganser duck floats in the foreground, facing slightly left. His plumage is crisp and high-contrast: a glossy black head with a bold white oval “hood” patch on the side, a bright golden eye, a clean white chest, and warm chestnut-brown sides. A thin, pointed black bill extends forward just above the water’s surface. Soft ripples spread outward from his body, creating gentle rings that distort his reflection.
Behind him, farther away and out of focus, a second duck—likely a female Hooded Merganser—appears smaller and browner, with a subtle crest shape. The background water is smooth and muted, giving the scene a quiet, subdued atmosphere, as if on an overcast day.
Overall, the image conveys a peaceful moment of two Hooded Mergansers resting on still water, with the sharply detailed male standing out against a softly blurred backdrop.
Photo Credit: Gregory Rothman 2026
Info about Hooded Mergansers
1. Their “hood” is adjustable
The male’s white crest is made of specialized feathers he can raise into a dramatic circular fan during courtship displays or flatten when relaxed.
2. Expert underwater hunters
They are diving ducks that pursue prey visually, mainly eating small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Their eyes can rapidly adjust focus underwater.
3. Built-in fish grips
Like other mergansers, their bills have fine serrations along the edges—often described as “saw-toothed”—that help hold slippery prey.
4. Cavity nesters
Unlike most ducks, they nest in tree cavities (often old woodpecker holes) and readily use nest boxes near wooded wetlands.
5. Early leap of faith
Hooded merganser ducklings jump from the nest cavity—sometimes 10–15 meters (30–50 ft) above ground—within a day of hatching, bouncing safely due to their light weight and down.
6. One of the smallest mergansers
At roughly 40–49 cm (16–19 in) long, they’re the smallest species in the merganser group and are native to North America.
An adult male Hooded Merganser duck is centered on a calm, gray lake, captured mid-motion as he rises partly upright from the water. His body is vertical, with his chest lifted clear of the surface while his tail and lower body remain submerged. Its wings are extended outward in a broad arc, showing layered feathers in shades of brown, gray, and black, like a partially opened fan.
His head is turned slightly to the right, displaying the species’ distinctive pattern: a glossy black head with a large, bright white crest patch and a vivid yellow eye. The slim black bill points forward. Small splashes and droplets surround his body where the water breaks, and faint ripples spread outward from the movement.
The background is softly blurred water with muted tones, emphasizing the duck’s striking black-and-white head and the dynamic wing stretch. The moment feels brief and energetic, as if the Hooded Merganser has just popped up to stretch before settling back down.
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BestOfTheMonth
A Pair of #HoodedMergansers are mergansering about. I was lazy this month. Low on posts and images. My apologies.
#EastCoastKin #PhotographerUnited #SwimmingDucks #urbanWildlife #NorthPond
