Marie Curtis Park, Jan 12/10

[ravynne40]

here was the male Hooded Merganser at Marie Curtis Park



Stretching


Irene

i cwas be mistaken it is a non breeding male

[egret]

Enchanting is your photo

tks

Egret !

[ravynne40]

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

[ravynne40]

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

[Misty01]

great photo's   I really like the second one!

[Moira]

Great shots - #1 for me!

[ravynne40]

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

Irene

[Brian Bailey]

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

[ravynne40]

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

[thouc]

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

[Brian Bailey]

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

BB

[ravynne40]

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!