Hooded Merganser

The handsome male Hooded Merganser possesses a brilliant white crest bordered in
black that is revealed in moments of passionate courtship or sudden exasperation. The
remainder of the time the crest is held flat against the head, showing only a long, slick,
black swipe. The female possesses a similar crest but hers is uniformly rufous in colour.
These magnificent birds are present year-round in Vancouver. The best times to see
them are between November and April. Some of the best places to look include the
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Burnaby Lake, Boundary Bay and Beaver
Lake. Like all mergansers, the Hooded Merganser feeds on fish, and its slim bill pos-
sesses a serrated edge that helps to hold this slippery aquatic prey. Before enjoying
its catch, it uses only its bill and slight tosses of its head to reposition the fish so that
its meal can be swallowed headfirst.

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