Hooded Merganser, Pool area, Central Park, NYC markscheflen.com #centralparknyc #birdsphotography #biodiversity #wildlifeconservation #bird #birds #birdseenin2026 #wildbirdphotography #hoodedmergansers #wildbirdphotography #wildbirds
A small brown duck followed by three ducklings is swimming across a pond. These are Hooded Mergansers. Hooded Mergansers have been raising ducklings on this small pond since I have been birding here. I always see Hooded Merganser pairs earlier in the spring, but then the male disappears. Males abandon the females as soon as incubation begins, and the female cares for her ducklings on her own.
For todays #birdoftheday theme, here’s #fourormore #HoodedMergansers. Hulls Falls Road, Keene, NY (11 June 2023). wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-b...
#birds #Adirondacks #adirondackmountains #ducklings #ducks
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
#hoodedmergansers running from the Cobra Chickens at Como Lake Park, Coquitlam, BC Canada
sound on!
Alan's @alan678.bsky.social #BirdOfTheDay theme is #WingsOverWater any bird flying over water.
I've chosen a pair of #HoodedMergansers making a quick departure. Apparently they didn't want to do photos that day. 🤷♂️
#Photography #EastCoastKin #birdphotography #CanonR10 #CanonPhotography #GoOutside
Here’s a flotilla of #HoodedMergansers at my favorite pond. Only one got the #TailsUp memo as it dove looking for a little fish smackeral.
#BirdOfTheDay
#birds
#birding
#pondlife
#wildlifephotography
#coastalgeorgia
#EastCoastKin
Hooded merganser ducks in foreground swimming in pond with great blue heron getting ready to fly as a coyote crosses behind
Almost the end of the year but this is going to be one of my favorite photos of 2025; hooded mergansers, great blue heron and coyote
#birds #mammals #coyote #hoodedmergansers #greatblueheron #nature #naturephotography
A male and female Hooded Merganser are swimming side by side but in opposite directions. The female has just surfaced from a dive and has water droplets sliding off her head and back. The male is displaying with its white and black hood standing upright. The male’s yellow eye and auburn body add a bit of color in an otherwise brown and grey early spring scene.
A pair of #HoodedMergansers provide nice #SideProfiles for today’s #BirdoftheDay.
#birds #naturephotograpy #minnesota #birddisplay
Synchronized dancing for the girls
#bird #birds #wildlife #photography #audubon #nature #naturephotography #birdnerd #wildlife #natgeowild #bbcwildlife #bbcearth #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #blueskyartshow #planetbirds #bestbirdshots #lynzieflynn #mergansers #hoodedmergansers
These tiny ducks are Hooded Mergansers. I see them during the colder months. They are skittish so it's hard to get close. They are so damned cute! The 1st photo is mine, the 2nd is Google so you can see how adorable they are up close. They males have a black and white head.
#birds
#hoodedmergansers
"Five hooded mergansers glide across a calm, silvery body of water like a ceremonial procession. The surface shimmers with soft ripples trailing behind each bird, marking their deliberate movement as if inscribing a scroll across the lake. Two males lead the flotilla, their crests raised like feathered helmets, boldly patterned in black and white. Their heads resemble abstract brushstrokes—sharp, graphic, and regal—while their golden eyes pierce forward with quiet intensity. Behind them, three females follow in gentle formation. Their plumage is earth-toned—rich browns and muted grays—with cinnamon crests that puff like windswept tufts. They move with understated grace, their reflections faintly mirrored in the water below. The group maintains a loose but intentional spacing, as if bound by an unspoken choreography. The scene is hushed, reverent. No splashing, no urgency—just a quiet glide beneath a soft morning light. The water’s surface is a canvas of pale blues and silvers, broken only by the ducks’ mirrored silhouettes and the gentle wake they leave behind. It feels like a moment suspended in time, a sovereign aquatic rite." - Microsoft Copilot
Good morning. 🦆🦆🦆
14 November 2025
I need to get out and walk this morning—I skipped ...
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#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #ducks #HoodedMergansers #morning #SNL #procrastination #exercise
Hooded merganser male and his female. The female is brown and her head feathers are down. The male is brightly colored brown black and white with a yellow eye. The hood is black and white and it's up trying to get the female's attention.
Hooded merganser male and his female. The female is brown and her head feathers are down. The male is brightly colored brown black and white with a yellow eye. The hood is black and white and it's up trying to get the female's attention. The female is looking the other way but keeping an eye on him.
Male Hooded Merganser duck lifting a wing in the middle of a display for his female.
Male hooded merganser duck splashing about pumping his chest out and splashing to get the female's attention.
The Hooded Mergansers I saw today were very far away so shots aren't that great, but I watched this one male giving incredible displays for about 30min. It was lovely to witness. I will have to see if any better shots exist. Still sorting through the pics.
#birds #HoodedMergansers
"Two hooded mergansers erupt from the surface of a rippling pond, their wings slicing through the air with precision and grace. The male, on the left, wears a bold crest like a ceremonial plume—black and white, sharply defined—his chestnut flanks glowing like polished mahogany. The female, to his right, is subtler in tone, her feathers a soft blend of gray and brown, her crest more modest, yet no less dignified. They fly low, just inches above the water, as if reluctant to leave the realm below. Their reflections shimmer beneath them—ghostly doubles caught in the green-blue tapestry of the pond. The water itself is textured with gentle ripples, like silk stirred by breath. The ducks’ bodies are taut with motion, wings mid-beat, feet tucked, eyes forward—each bird a sovereign arrow launched from the stillness. The image captures not just movement, but a moment of mythic transition: from water to air, from rest to flight, from reflection to resolve. It’s a portrait of wild ceremony, a duet of instinct and elegance." - Microsoft Copilot
Echoes Beneath Them
Here’s a shot of two hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) lifting off from a pond in Albany, Georgia. It’s not ...
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#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #ducks #HoodedMergansers
Every time I think they're gone, the Hooded Mergansers just keep coming back to me. At first I thought Mom had left, but it was just her molting her "hood" feathers. 7/8 ducklings are still with us. 🦆🤞
#birds #ducks #hoodedmergansers
Flight and Afloat This image showcases a delightful scene featuring six hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus). Three of them are flying gracefully above the water, while the remaining three are swimming, all heading from right to left. Among the group, two vibrant males display their distinctive black and white crests, offering a striking contrast to the softer brown hues of the four females. The setting exudes a sense of harmony, with their movements captured in perfect rhythm.
Good morning. 🦆🦆🦆
16 April 2025
I still remember my first record player. ...
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#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #HoodedMergansers #morning #memories
#hoodedmergansers have started arriving; #mallards too. #mergansers, #swans, and #geese numbers continue to rise. A single #Canadagoose already nesting. #GileFlowage #wisconsin #upnorth #bird #birds #birding #ornithology #birdwatching #naturephotography #photos #naturephotos #swans #trumpeterswans
#HoodedMergansers putting on a show for some #turtles this morning.
#ohiowildlife #wildlifephotography #birdnerd #protectwildlife #birder #weirdducks
"The image captures a stunning moment where four hooded mergansers are taking off from the surface of a calm pond. The birds are frozen mid-flight, their wings gracefully extended as their reflections shimmer on the greenish water, which mirrors the lush vegetation nearby. A signature, "© Swede's Photographs," is visible in the bottom right corner." - Copilot
Reflection in Motion
The reflections on the water's surface create the illusion that there are twice as many ducks in this photo ...
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#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #HoodedMergansers
A pair of Hooded Mergansers, Pool, Central Park, NYC markscheflen.com #birdphotography #twitternaturephotography #wildlifeplanet #earthofficial #nycbirdalliance #sierraclub #birdcpp #BirdsSeenIn2025 #climatechange #centralparknyc #wildlifephotography #hoodedmergansers #birds
I painted this watercolor Hooded Merganser one of my favorite ducks that hangs out in the pond in front of our house (see photo). They are expert diving fishers. #fishyfebruary #FebruArty #HoodedMergansers #Watercolor #BskyArt
Which way do we go? said the hooded mergansers. A question for us all to answer. :)
#birds #hoodedmergansers
So you hear what I hear?
Two male Hooded Mergansers.
#birds, #hoodedmergansers, #urbanbirding , #weirdduckseason , #getoutside , #blackbirder , #weouthere
Good Morning Blue Sky! Here’s a short video from a small hike I did last week. A day in Nature can feed the soul for weeks to come.
#nature #birds #outdoors #peace #wildlife #photography #hoodedmergansers
heard the bird people are posting ducks today and this is the content i’m here for.
have some hooded mergansers 🫶🏻
#birds #birdphotography #hoodedmergansers #duck #ducks
Hooded Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Hooded Mergansers - They look so interesting
#HoodedMergansers #wildlife #wild #nature #birdsofbluesky #hood
group of 4 lady hooded mergansers on a blue pond
Mergansers On The Pond
🪶 #birds #ducks #mergansers #hoodedmergansers #waterfowl #ornithology #wildlife #photography #wildlifephotography #glynncounty #mhbenton
A few hooded mergansers from this afternoon with the snow! #photography #snow #ducks #birds #hoodedmergansers
