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Hooded Merganser Identification

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The Four Keys to ID

  • Size & Shape

    Hooded Mergansers are small ducks with a thin bill and a fan-shaped, collapsible crest that makes the head look oversized and oblong. In flight, the wings are thin and the tail is relatively long and rounded.

    Relative Size

    Smaller than a Red-breasted Merganser; larger than a Bufflehead.

    Relative Sizecrow sizedcrow-sized

    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 15.8-19.3 in (40-49 cm)
      • Weight: 16.0-31.0 oz (453-879 g)
      • Wingspan: 23.6-26.0 in (60-66 cm)