Hooded Merganser Lophodytes Cucullatus Video page

Appearance:
Male - The male Hooded Merganser has a black head with a large white patch from behind the yellow eye to its bushy crest which can be expanded or contracted. The neck and back are black with a black band across a white breast, reddish-brown flanks, and a thin black beak. The Hooded Merganser has a sawbill for gripping fish.
Female - The female has a dull brown head with a smaller red-brown crest, brown eyes, the beak has a yellow lower mandible and darker upper mandible, the upperparts are brownish-grey with greyish upper-breast, flanks, and white lower-breast.
Eclipse - The male in eclipse plumage is very similar to the female but has yellow eyes and a darker beak.

Notes: - The Hooded Merganser is a sea duck. It is able to dive for fish and stay underwater for some time and uses its sawbill to grip the fish.

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