Thursday, October 10, 2013

Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus)

I was happy to note the arrival of some of my favorite little diving ducks, the Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) pictured above. The first pair showed up about ten days ago and others have arrived since. Above are three males. The white on their heads will develop into a upstanding crest that signals the beginning of the mating season.
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3 comments:

  1. JoJoOctober 10, 2013 at 5:37 AM

    You say 'they've arrived'. Where do they spend the summer? farther north?

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  2. StephanieOctober 10, 2013 at 8:58 AM

    Nicely composed.

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  3. Benjamin MadisonOctober 10, 2013 at 9:30 AM

    @JoJo: It seems they nest and rear their young further north though perhaps not too much further north. They may also just move inland to lakes since they prefer to nest in trees, like Wood Ducks. In any case we don't usually see them on the Inner Harbour except during the autumn and winter.

    @Stephanie: Thanks - it's hard to go wrong with these handsome little ducks.

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