8 replies to this topic

[bkushner]

I've Id'd this as a Female Hooded, someone said it's a juvenile male?

 

 

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[Parula]

female hooded

[Liam]

Black bill and bright yellow eyes make it a male.

[birdbrain22]

Liam:

Black bill and bright yellow eyes make it a male.

 

Agreed.

[bkushner]

OK male it is. This bird ID thing is too confusing. Thanks

[Grandpa577]

Could you enlighten me.  If this picture was taken recently, then we should see three different Hooded Mergansers - male breeding, female breeding and first year.  It's obviously not a male breeding or female breeding ( no grey flanks and no white stripe on upperparts).  Its a first year bird then?

[Liam]

Grandpa577:

Its a first year bird then?

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. If you look closely you can see white spots on the breast and black spots on the face, signs that he's starting to attain his adult plumage. 

[Grandpa577]

Okay, so we have a first year bird that has gone through a molt earlier in the winter resulting in telltale signs of breeding plumage.  Presumably, by May he will begin to transform into eclipse plumage?  The lighter eye is indicative of male while females have darker eyes.

[Liam]

Grandpa577:

Okay, so we have a first year bird that has gone through a molt earlier in the winter resulting in telltale signs of breeding plumage.  Presumably, by May he will begin to transform into eclipse plumage?  The lighter eye is indicative of male while females have darker eyes.

Yes.  

Females also have yellowish bills, while males have black/ish bills.