Hooded merganser

Hooded merganser photographed in Manitoba

The male hooded merganser is a duck made for photographers, with a black head and a crest that he can raise and lower like a fan, showing a bold white patch with a black edge. The female is a more subtle brown, with a ragged cinnamon crest. Together they are one of the most beautiful pairs on a quiet pond.

These small diving ducks hunt by sight, chasing fish, crayfish, and insects under the water with a thin, serrated bill. They nest in tree cavities near wooded water, and the ducklings leap from the nest hole a day after hatching, bouncing to the ground. In Manitoba they are seen in spring and fall, often on forest ponds and slow rivers.

The fan-shaped white crest of a male hooded merganser, raised and lowered like a flag, is what I wait for.

To learn more about the hooded merganser and its habitat, visit its species page at All About Birds.

Field notes in photographs

  • Hooded merganser drake swimming on calm grey water, crest fanned
  • Female hooded merganser swimming in still water
  • Hooded merganser drake taking off over shallow water, wings blurred
  • Hooded merganser taking off with a splash across grey water
  • Hooded merganser drake running across the water with wings spread, white crest raised

Hooded merganser Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the hooded merganser in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the hooded merganser nests, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the hooded merganser in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Shield, the Boreal Plains, and the Prairies (gold). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

Follow new photos

New work is shared on Facebook and Bluesky first.

Follow on FacebookFollow on Bluesky