Hooded Merganser

The Hooded Merganser is known for its extraordinary black and white crest. They are the second smallest species of merganser and are the only native habitat that can be found in North America. The adult male hooded merganser has a white fan-shaped crest on its head, a white chest with two black stripes, and yellow eyes. The body and crest of the female hooded merganser are greyish-brown, and she has brown eyes.

Typically found around small ponds, rivers, and lakes, the little diving ducks dive for prey like fish, crayfish, crabs, aquatic insects, and other invertebrates. They can be found in wooded ponds, marshes, and small estuaries in the winter. In the summer, they live in creeks, narrow rivers, and pond borders. In freshwater where it is simple for them to dive down and look for food, hooded mergansers love to congregate.