Hooded Merganser

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Mergansers are diving ducks and three different species are found in the United States, Hooded-Mergansers, Common Mergansers and Red-breasted Mergansers.

Hooded Mergansers, like the ones in the top picture, are striking birds. The male has a crest on his head that can be raised and lowered, making the white patch appear larger or smaller.

Females also have a crest, however, there is no white patch on it.

They are also known as sea ducks, and most of the United States population is found around the East Coast, especially in the South.

Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser) are the most common and larger mergansers. Males have green heads and orange bills. Females, like the one pictured below have red heads.

They inhabitat fresh water areas throughout much of the United States with the exception of the Southeast.

Red-breasted mergansers, not pictured, share some physical resemblence with Common Mergansers.

They winter along coastal areas of the United States.

© 2005-2008 Patricia A. Michaels