The Wood Ducks ("Woodies") have left our little lake here at the end of the road. Nowadays, it's the male Hooded Mergansers ("Hoodies") who are looking downright studly again.
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| Male Hooded Mergansers (c) John Ashley |
After spending much of the summer in a female-like basic plumage, the male Hoodies have moulted back into their handsome breeding plumage. It makes for a more impressive courting display, when they throw their heads back and make a creaking, sort of frog-like
call. The males have been performing this display for each other, as well as in front of the females. For their part, the females seem to play coy, not showing any apparent reaction to these creaking males amongst them. Sorta' reminds me of college days for some reason.
