Hooded Merganser

duck · diving · crest · fish-eater

Crown-like crest. Both male and female hooded mergansers have fancy crests on their heads that they can raise up or lower down whenever they want, like magic feathered hats.

Fish-catching bill. This duck has a special sawbill, which means its bill has tiny ridges and tooth-like edges that help it grip slippery fish underwater.

Handsome patterns. Male hooded mergansers in breeding season show off striking black and white patterns and rich colors, while females are more brownish and understated.

Expert diver. The name 'hooded merganser' comes from Greek words meaning 'crest' and 'diver' because this duck is fantastic at diving down to catch fish.

One-of-a-kind species. The hooded merganser is the only living duck left in its own special genus, Lophodytes, making it uniquely different from all other ducks.