Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => Behaviour => Topic started by: Dinusaur on November 14, 2013, 06:45:15 PM

Title: Courtship of hooded Merganser
Post by: Dinusaur on November 14, 2013, 06:45:15 PM

Towards the end of the day Saturday, Nov 9 I saw a group of Merganser at Humber Bay East park going through their courtship rituals. The males were moving around rapidly, throwing their heads back and making a very throaty low rumbling sound. Shouldn't they be doing this in the Spring? Why now?

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5542/10861684403_0b77dfef97_c.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3772/10861340915_be31cb930c_c.jpg)

Title: Re: Courtship of hooded Merganser
Post by: Reuven_M on November 14, 2013, 07:20:24 PM

I'm not entirely sure it's correct, but my understanding is that many ducks choose mates on the wintering grounds and travel north together.

Title: Re: Courtship of hooded Merganser
Post by: Dinusaur on November 14, 2013, 08:35:05 PM

Quote from: "rodbender"

Great pics what lens did you use??

Thanks. The lens was a Nikon 300mm f2.8 together with a Nikon 1.7 converter. The EXIF data is on Flickr.