Hawaiian Bird Guide
Hooded Merganser
The Hooded Merganser is a small fish-eating duck known for the male's bold white crest and golden eyes. It usually lives around shallow ponds, rivers and wooded wetlands, while Hawaii sightings are rare.
Hooded Merganser Overview
The hooded merganser is a small fish-eating duck that can be seen on shallow ponds. Adult males in breeding season have a circular crest with a large white patch, golden eyes, black face, white chest with black and white stripes on the sides and a dark bill. In non-breeding season they have a grayish-brown back, breast and sides, a white belly, yellow eyes and a black bill.
Adult females have a brown body, a small white patch on the chin and at the base of the wings. Their eyes are brown and their upper mandible is a blackish green with an orange edge. Their lower mandible is yellow or orange.
