Hooded Merganser Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesHooded Merganser

Adult male

Small duck with slender bill and flamboyant oversized head. Hood (crest) can be raised as shown or lowered, changing the shape of the head and the white head patch.

Female

Small brownish duck with warm cinnamon crest and gray-brown body. Long tail is not always visible.

Adult males and female with Canvasback

Courtship typically occurs in groups with several males and a few females. Males raise their crest, pump their head, flap their wings, and give a froglike croak.

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Nonbreeding male

Small, brownish duck with fairly long, straight, slender bill. Ragged crest is cinnamon brown, warmer than the rest of the body.

Adult male and female

In flight, both sexes have limited white markings on the inner upperwings.

Female with juveniles

Hooded Merganser clutch size ranges from 5–13 eggs. Ducklings need little parental care—they can dive and collect their own food within hours of hatching.

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Female

Small, brownish duck with slender, straight bill. Movable crest can give head varied shapes; it's usually warmer brown than the rest of the bird, especially toward the tip.

Male and female

Male's crest when lowered lies against the back of the neck, the white patch minimized to a stripe behind the eye.

Adult male

A slender, serrated bill helps Hooded Mergansers capture aquatic insects, fish, and crayfish. Prey is usually swallowed whole.

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Adult male

Flamboyant small duck with oversized head when crest is extended. White chest/sides are crossed by one black stripe and bordered by a second; flanks are chestnut.

Immature male

Immature male shows a mix of female and adult male features.

Adult males

Hooded Mergansers preen while swimming or standing on land.

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Female and juvenile

Small brownish duck with straight, slender bill and warm brown crest. In summer may be seen with many ducklings in tow.

Adult male and female

May form small flocks; males perform several types of displays that emphasize the black-and-white crest, especially when females are present.

Female

Nests in holes in trees and in nest boxes.

Similar SpeciesBufflehead

Breeding male

Buffleheads are smaller than Hooded Mergansers. Males have a white belly and sides whereas male Hooded Mergansers have cinnamon sides.

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Similar SpeciesBufflehead

Female

Buffleheads are smaller than Hooded Mergansers. Female Buffleheads have a white spot on the face that females and nonbreeding male Hooded Mergansers Lack.

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