Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: ravynne40 on January 14, 2010, 11:51:43 AM

Title: Marie Curtis Park, Jan 12/10
Post by: ravynne40 on January 14, 2010, 11:51:43 AM

here was the male Hooded Merganser at Marie Curtis Park

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4273808143_93cebc74a8_o.jpg)

Stretching
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4273808039_375776e907_o.jpg)

Irene

i cwas be mistaken it is a non breeding male

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Post by: egret on January 14, 2010, 01:32:08 PM

Enchanting is your photo

tks

Egret !

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Post by: ravynne40 on January 14, 2010, 02:01:20 PM

thank you, they look a little lost swimming among the mallards, poor things!

AND today there were two i will post pics later when the camera warms up a little!
if they turned out that is. LOL

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Post by: ravynne40 on January 14, 2010, 02:37:44 PM

here is the pair, not a great shot but definitely a couple! Seen January 14/10

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4274920716_cc6bf2ce10_o.jpg)

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Post by: Misty01 on January 14, 2010, 04:05:19 PM

great photo's  :D I really like the second one!

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Post by: Moira on January 14, 2010, 08:55:11 PM

Great shots - #1 for me!

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Post by: ravynne40 on January 14, 2010, 09:32:37 PM

aw thanks can you believe how different the male looks when not in breeding plumage?
i was so confused! LOL

Irene

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Post by: Brian Bailey on January 14, 2010, 11:11:13 PM

Irene,

Your pair is not actually a pair of Hooded Mergansers.  The one in the foreground is a female Red-breasted and the one in the background is a female Hooded.  The males are already in breeding plumage.  Some of them are already displaying.

BB

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Post by: ravynne40 on January 15, 2010, 06:18:27 AM

Thanks Brian
ok i agree with the one in the forefront being a red breasted merganser, BUT the dark bill, white streak on the cheek and the yellow eye on the one in the back is definitely a male hoodie
my reference
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/specie ... popup_view (http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/098/galleries/photos/JRW_070902_00092B_S/image_popup_view)

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Post by: thouc on January 15, 2010, 09:18:41 AM

I think you are right, Irene, that this is a male Hooded Merganser, but as Brian says, the adult males are in their breeding plumage this time of the year, so this is a first winter male.

/Thomas

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Post by: Brian Bailey on January 15, 2010, 09:50:44 PM

I stand corrected!  :oops:

Although the plumage is virtually identical, a female Hoody should be showing some yellow on the bill.

BTW, if you want a really detailed description of the plumages and moults, check the Cornell Birds of North America Site (http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/098/articles/appearance)

BB

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Post by: ravynne40 on January 15, 2010, 09:59:56 PM

Thanks Brian that is a great site and where i got the male hoodie (non breeding) as for the merganser, well...i was so excited to see these birds that i messed up their names LOL!