Which Bird Changes its Eye Color During Breeding Season- Canadian Wildlife Education Series

The Hooded Merganser is a small to medium sized duck. It can be often found in the company of Wood Ducks in shallow water and wooded ponds. There long narrow bill allows them to catch fish, which is their main diet. Hooded Mergansers are known for the fluffy fan shaped crests. Both male and female have an average length of 19 inches with a wingspan of 23-26 inches. Both weigh in at a mere 15- 30 oz. Hooded Mergansers are the smallest of the 6 merganser species and are found only in North America.

The Male Hooded Merganser during breeding season shows him sporting a circular crest outlined in black with a white patch. At other times his back sides and breast are a greyish brown, while its stomach is white. During breeding season his eyes are gold, whereas other times his eyes are yellow. The typical black bill develops a yellow base during this season.  The female has a brownish body, tail and head with an elegant head crest. Her wings are blackish brown tones. She has a small white patch on her chin and at the base of her wings. The upper mandible is a deep greenish black with orange edging. The female’s lower mandible is yellow or orange. Breeding takes place in wetland forests.

During their first year the juvenile Hooded Merganser closely resembles the adult females. Both males and females can raise and lower their crest. Hooded Mergansers nest in nest boxes and tree cavities lined with the females downy chest feathers. She will lay up to 13 eggs white eggs. Covered in down, the chicks leave the nest the day after they hatch. 

Hooded Mergansers inhabit lakes, rivers and ponds. In the winter and during migration they can be found inhabiting open waters, coastal waters and shallow water area. Unlike other mergansers, Hooded Mergansers often inhabit more shallow waters. Their diet consists of aquatic insects, crustaceans and fish. Crayfish are believed to be a favorite. With good under water vision, mergansers dive underwater to locate their prey.

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