Merganser ID? Wisconsin (1 Viewer)

[birdman000]

I saw this duck swim by with its young and can only guess it is a Merganser of some kind. I think it is a female making it hard for me to figure out which one.... but I guess that's where you all come in.

Thanks!!

 

[jcwings]

Judging by the reddish crest which is folded down and the bird's facial pattern my guess is female Hooded Merganser.

 

[birdman000]

So because the crest is so large would rule out a red-breasted?

Thank you for the quick response.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Yes , size and shape of the crest make this a hooded Merganser, as werll asthe coloration of the body and the bill coloration.

Redbreasted is greyer and has a more rusty red head coloration, and a longer and red bill.

 

[jcwings]

To my eyes your bird looks like this:
http://www.wanderbirdcruises.com/images/birds/Hooded-Merganser.jpg

Compare with female Red-breasted and note bill color as Joern points out:
http://www.woodley.ws/images/Red-breastedMerganser2.jpg

 

[Tero]

Cool photos. When do they molt?

 

[Dave Hall]

Hi Looks like a family of Hooded Mergansera