Both the hooded merganser and the red-breasted merganser are types of ducks found in North America. The females of these two species can look quite similar to an untrained eye, but there are some key differences between them. In this article, we will go over the distinguishing features of female hooded mergansers and female red-breasted mergansers including their size, bill shape, head shape, plumage, range, habitat, diet, breeding, conservation status and more. Learning to tell these two ducks apart takes some practice, but being able to identify them is an important skill for any birder or waterfowl enthusiast.
Quick Identification Tips
Here are some quick tips for telling female hooded mergansers and red-breasted mergansers apart:
– Hooded mergansers are smaller with a thinner bill, while red-breasted mergansers are larger with a thicker bill.
– Female hooded mergansers have a rounded head shape, while female red-breasted mergansers have a flatter crown.
– The breast of female hooded mergansers features neat white barring, while the breast of female red-breasted mergansers has messy streaking.
– Female hooded mergansers have two thin white lines extending back from the eye, while female red-breasted mergansers lack these lines.
– Hooded mergansers only occur in North America, while red-breasted mergansers have a nearly global distribution.
Size
One of the most noticeable differences between these two ducks is their size. Hooded mergansers are smaller and more compact overall than red-breasted mergansers.
Female hooded mergansers have a length range of 17.3-19.7 inches (44-50 cm) and weigh between 1.0-1.7 pounds (0.5-0.8 kg). They have a wingspan of about 24-27 inches (61-69 cm).
Female red-breasted mergansers are quite a bit larger, with a length range of 21-25 inches (53-64 cm) and a weight range of 1.5-2.4 pounds (0.7-1.1 kg). Their wingspan is around 29-33 inches (74-84 cm).
So in direct comparison, female red-breasted mergansers are around 20-40% larger in body length than female hooded mergansers. This size difference can help observers distinguish between the two species, especially when seen together. The red-breasted will look distinctly bigger.
Bill Shape
Along with their difference in size, female hooded mergansers and red-breasted mergansers show some subtle variations in bill shape.
The hooded merganser has a thin, needle-like bill that is serrated along the edges. It is approximately 1.4-2 inches (3.5-5 cm) in length. The bill tapers to a pointy tip suited for grabbing small fish and aquatic insects.
By comparison, the red-breasted merganser’s bill is longer and stouter at 2-2.5 inches (5-6.5 cm) in length. It has a thicker, chunkier look overall, while still ending in a pointed tip for spearing fish. The bill also has serrated edges, but they are harder to see due to the bill’s broader width.
So the red-breasted merganser’s bill is 20-40% longer and thicker than the hooded merganser’s neat, thin bill. This can aid identification at distances where the duck’s body size is harder to discern.
Head Shape
Observing the head shape of these ducks is another useful identification clue.
On the hooded merganser, the female has a rounded head shape. The crown and back of the head have a smooth, domed appearance.
The red-breasted merganser female has a flatter head shape overall. The crown has a flattened, angular look compared to the hooded merganser. The nape of the neck also appears flatter before tapering into the body.
When seen from the side, the hooded merganser’s crested head has a more peaked appearance versus the subtle crest and flattened crown of the red-breasted.
Plumage
The plumage of female hooded mergansers and red-breasted mergansers shows some of the most distinctive differences between these ducks. While both have grayish bodies and reddish-brown heads, the specifics of their feather patterns are quite distinct.
Breast and Belly
The breast plumage provides one of the most reliable ways to tell female hooded mergansers and red-breasted mergansers apart.
On hooded mergansers, the breast features crisp white bars against a gray background. The barring extends neatly across the breast and belly in thin, clean lines.
Red-breasted mergansers have a more disorganized breast pattern. Instead of bars, their breast features messy streaks and blotches of beige, brown and white. These markings blur together to create a speckled or scrawled look.
The hooded merganser’s neat, crisp breast bars versus the red-breasted’s streaky, scribbled breast can distinguish these ducks even at a distance when size, bill shape and head shapes are harder to discern.
Back
When seen from behind, female hooded mergansers display intricately patterned black-and-white barring across the full back and sides. This barring extends neatly up the neck as well.
Female red-breasted mergansers lack the hooded merganser’s distinct double barred pattern. Instead, they display gray-brown plumage on the head, neck, back and sides with some faint vermiculated markings.
Face
The facial plumage also shows distinct differences between female hooded mergansers and red-breasted mergansers:
– Female hooded mergansers have a reddish-brown head and crest, with two thin white lines extending back from the eyes towards the nape.
– Female red-breasted mergansers have a grayish head and lack the hooded merganser’s white eye lines. Their head color is muted compared to the hooded’s rich reddish-brown.
So the presence or absence of the white lines helps distinguishes these ducks’ faces.
Plumage Area | Female Hooded Merganser | Female Red-Breasted Merganser |
---|---|---|
Breast | Crisp white bars on gray | Messy streaks on white |
Back | Fine black & white barring | Mottled gray-brown |
Head | Rich reddish-brown with white eye lines | Grayish with no eye lines |
Range and Habitat
The ranges and habitat preferences of these ducks show some overlap but also have key differences:
Hooded Merganser
- Range: Occurs only in North America. Breeds across Canada and the northern United States. Winters along the U.S. Gulf Coast, the Pacific Coast, and south into Mexico.
- Habitat: In summer, favors forested wetlands and rivers. In winter, found on estuaries, lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Red-Breasted Merganser
- Range: Occurs across North America, Europe, Asia, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Africa. Winters further south than hooded mergansers.
- Habitat: Summers on inland rivers, lakes and pools, including tundra pools. Winters in estuaries and saltwater habitats.
So while both species occur in North America and utilize some similar aquatic habitats, the red-breasted merganser has a much broader worldwide distribution compared to the continentally restricted hooded merganser.
Diet
Hooded mergansers and red-breasted mergansers are both piscivorous, meaning fish make up the majority of their diet. However, they show some differences in their preferred prey:
Hooded Merganser
- Eats mainly small fish like minnows, suckers, and sunfish.
- Also eats aquatic insects, mollusks like snails, and some plant material.
- Forages by diving underwater to catch prey, or grabs insects and larvae from the water’s surface.
Red-Breasted Merganser
- Eats larger fish including herring, smelt, sticklebacks, and perch.
- Occasionally eats crustaceans and aquatic plants.
- Forages with deep dives to catch fish, or rob prey from other diving ducks.
So while both are piscivores, hooded mergansers take smaller fish and insects while red-breasted mergansers can handle larger fish prey. This correlates with their smaller vs. larger bill sizes.
Breeding
Hooded mergansers and red-breasted mergansers breed in similar forested wetland habitats in spring and summer. However, their breeding behaviors show some key differences:
Hooded Merganser
- Nest in tree cavities, often in dead trees over water.
- Lays 6-18 white eggs.
- Female alone incubates eggs and cares for the young.
- Ducklings jump to ground shortly after hatching.
Red-Breasted Merganser
- Nest on the ground near water, hidden in vegetation.
- Lays 5-17 creamy white eggs.
- Female incubates eggs and cares for young, but male helps guard hatchlings.
- Ducklings leave nest shortly after hatching.
Interestingly, the nesting habits of these two mergansers differ more than their courtship and breeding system. The hooded merganser’s use of tree cavities makes it unique among waterfowl.
Conservation Status
Both species of mergansers remain common and widespread. However, they have different conservation statuses:
- Hooded merganser: Least concern status on the IUCN Red List. Population considered stable.
- Red-breasted merganser: Least concern status on the IUCN Red List. Population increasing.
Habitat destruction and nest cavity shortages are potential threats to hooded mergansers. But overall, both species appear secure for now. Proper wetland conservation is important for maintaining healthy populations of both species.
Comparison | Hooded Merganser | Red-Breasted Merganser |
---|---|---|
Size | 17.3-19.7 in long 1.0-1.7 lbs weight |
21-25 in long 1.5-2.4 lbs weight |
Bill Shape | Thin and pointed | Longer and stouter |
Head Shape | Rounded crown | Flatter crown |
Range | North America | North America, Europe, Asia, Africa |
Diet | Small fish, insects | Large fish |
Nest Site | Tree cavities | Ground nests |
Conclusion
In summary, female hooded mergansers and red-breasted mergansers show a number of subtle differences in size, shape, plumage, habitat preferences, diet, and breeding behavior. While they appear similar at first glance, features like bill size and shape, breast plumage patterns, back plumage, facial markings, and overall body size can help observers distinguish these two mergansers. Being able to positively identify these species takes practice, but improves any birdwatcher or waterfowl enthusiast’s skills. Both mergansers fill an important niche as fish-eating ducks across North America and beyond.