What do Hooded Mergansers eat in winter?

Do hooded mergansers eat crayfish?

Hooded Mergansers have a more diverse diet than that of other mergansers. Small fish, crustaceans–especially crayfish, and aquatic insects are all common prey items. Insects are especially important for the young. Hooded Mergansers have underwater vision, which helps them forage while diving.

Where do hooded mergansers nest?

They prefer clear water, woodland streams and rivers where trees provide cavities for nesting. Hooded mergansers eat fish, crustaceans and aquatic insects. Hooded mergansers nest in tree cavities, hollow trees and even the open tops of tree stumps. Unlike other ducks, the hooded merganser usually nests right next to water.

What does a hooded merganser do?

Hooded Mergansers dive to catch aquatic insects, crayfish, and small fish. Males court females by expanding their white, sail-like crests and making very low, gravelly, groaning calls. Hooded Mergansers fly distinctively, with shallow, very rapid wingbeats.

How do mergansers find their prey underwater?

Hooded Mergansers find their prey underwater by sight. They can actually change the refractive properties of their eyes to improve their underwater vision. In addition, they have an extra eyelid, called a “nictitating membrane,” which is transparent and helps protect the eye during swimming, like a pair of goggles.

What does a hooded merganser fish look like?

Females and immatures are gray and brown, with warm tawny-cinnamon tones on the head. Hooded Mergansers dive to catch aquatic insects, crayfish, and small fish. Males court females by expanding their white, sail-like crests and making very low, gravelly, groaning calls.

How do you attract hooded mergansers to a nest?

Install nest boxes by mid-March near, or over, water. Add 2–3 inches of wood shavings to the bottom of the box. Avoid disturbing nesting females early in the egg-laying stage. Hooded Merganser eggs can be reliably told apart from Wood Duck eggs by their unusually thick eggshells.

What does the crest of a hooded merganser look like?

Male’s crest when lowered lies against the back of the neck, the white patch minimized to a stripe behind the eye. A slender, serrated bill helps Hooded Mergansers capture aquatic insects, fish, and crayfish. Prey is usually swallowed whole. Flamboyant small duck with oversized head when crest is extended.

What is the difference between a merganser and a bufflehead?

Smaller than a Red-breasted Merganser; larger than a Bufflehead. Adult male Hooded Mergansers are black above, with a white breast and rich chestnut flanks. The black head has a large white patch that varies in size when the crest is raised or lowered, but is always prominent.

Do hooded mergansers nest in trees?

Hooded mergansers nest in tree cavities, hollow trees and even the open tops of tree stumps. Unlike other ducks, the hooded merganser usually nests right next to water. From March to early June, females lay 10 to 12 almost round eggs and incubate them for 29 to 37 days.

How do I attract hooded mergansers to my wood duck box?

A wood duck box should have a solid predator guard to protect the eggs from hungry raccoons and other critters. Photo by Mark Martin Consider putting up a nest box to attract a breeding pair. Attach a predator guard to keep predators from raiding eggs and young.” Note that “wood duck box” blueprints work well for attracting hooded mergansers.

What is the difference between a common merganser and a bufflehead?

Common Mergansers are larger than Hooded Mergansers with a longer, thinner bill and paler sides. Buffleheads are smaller than Hooded Mergansers. Males have a white belly and sides whereas male Hooded Mergansers have cinnamon sides. Buffleheads are smaller than Hooded Mergansers.

How do you attach the back of a wood duck box?

Attach the back (1) to the side (2) using four screws fastened from the back of the wood duck box as shown below. Tip: For best results during the entire construction of your wood duck box, drill pilot holes as needed using an appropriate size drill bit (slightly smaller than the diameter of your wood screws) to avoid splitting your boards.

Do duck nesting boxes attract other birds?

A duck box may even attract other cavity nesting birds such as kestrels, tree swallows, great crested flycatchers or screech owls. Already have a nesting box? See our tips for building a predator guard and finding the right place to install .

How can you tell a merganser egg apart from a duck egg?

Avoid disturbing nesting females early in the egg-laying stage. Hooded Merganser eggs can be reliably told apart from Wood Duck eggs by their unusually thick eggshells.

How far apart should nest boxes be for wood ducks?

Nest Box Location and Installation Wood Ducks can be very secretive and particular about their habitat. Individual nest boxes should be located in relatively secluded areas where natural cavities would occur, about 600 feet apart, out of sight from each other.

What are the dimensions of a wood duck box?

Basic Wood Duck Box Dimensions and Placement Entrance Hole (0val) – 3 inches high, 4 inches wide for Wood Duck. Height of Hole above floor – 16 to 18 inches. Inside Floor Dimension – 10 inches x 10 inches to 12 inches x 12 inches.

How do you make a nesting box for a duckling?

Place 4 inches of wood shavings in box floor. Make sure the box has a fledgling ladder under the entrance hole. This can be a strip of 1/4 inch mesh hardware cloth stapled to the inside, or you can roughen a one-foot-deep section under the entrance hole with a chisel so the young ducklings can get a toehold while climbing up to the entrance.

How do you attract birds to a nesting box?

You can attract different species of birds by varying the size and location of nest boxes. By occasionally and carefully inspecting the box during the nesting season you can control conditions in the nest. You should thoroughly clean the box and discard used nesting material after the birds leave the box in the fall.

Are nest boxes beneficial to wood duck populations?

Thus, nest boxes are especially beneficial to wood duck populations in the Central Valley and other regions where natural nesting cavities are in short supply. Regular maintenance of wood duck boxes is essential to maximize their potential productivity. Boxes should first be inspected in late January or February.

What birds can nest in a duck box?

A duck box may even attract other cavity nesting birds such as kestrels, tree swallows, great crested flycatchers or screech owls. Already have a nesting box? See our tips for building a predator guard and finding the right place to install . Below are plans for a nest box that you can build, install and maintain.

Where do wood ducks build their nests?

These ducks build nests in abandoned woodpecker holes or natural tree cavities caused by disease, fire or lightning. They will also use a constructed nesting box. Don’t have wood ducks in your area? A duck box may even attract other cavity nesting birds such as kestrels, tree swallows, great crested flycatchers or screech owls.

What does a merganser duck egg look like?

The eggs are white with uncharacteristically thick shells and easy to distinguish from other cavity-nesting ducks. Shy by nature, the Hooded Merganser likes quiet wooded ponds where it feeds on tadpoles, frogs, fish and various types of aquatic insects. Hooded Merganser eggs 5 to 12 eggs per nest 54 mm Actual size(average egg) 44 mm WATERFOWL

How far apart should bird nest boxes be?

Space nest boxes fifty feet apart. Height: On land, place nest box six feet high. In water, place nest box three feet above historic high water levels.

Do different species of birds need different nesting boxes?

Because different species of birds prefer different kinds of nesting habitat, the vegetation surrounding your box will play a role in determining which species will nest in it. Remember: right box, right place. For example, nest boxes for bluebirds should be placed in open habitat.