Baby Hoodies

Hooded Merganser youngsters

6 young Hooded Merganser chicks resting and preening on a sunken log.

Hooded Merganser chicks

Hooded Merganser

Mama Merg says “let’s go kids”. 

Hooded Mergansers

Sawbills

One of the common names for Merganser is Sawbill. That is for the serrated edges of their bills. These small duck-like birds dive for their underwater prey. They use their eyesight to see the little fish, crustaceons, and underwater insects that they eat.

Lophodytes, cucullatus is the scientific name for the Hooded Merganser and the origin of the words are from the Greek language, they translate as “crested diver”.

Bald Eagle

 At the mouth of the river, this Bald Eagle was waiting for something to swim by in the weeds. He soon left when I saw him and I hope the baby Hoodies were wary of this opportunisitic hunter.