Suzi Eszterhas / Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), female. Sacramento, California, USA. April.

Suzi Eszterhas / Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), female. Sacramento, California, USA. April.

Suzi Eszterhas / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) one week old orphan chick, International Bird Rescue, Fairfield, California

E.J. Peiker/ BIA / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, Arizona

E.J. Peiker/ BIA / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male in courtship display, Arizona

E.J. Peiker/ BIA / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, Arizona

E.J. Peiker/ BIA / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male in courtship display, Arizona

Nate Chappell/ BIA / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) sub-adult male, Texas

George Sanker / Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). male female pair, Acadia National Park, Maine, USA. March.

George Sanker / Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male in breeding plumage. Acadia National Park, Maine, USA. March.

George Sanker / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). Male in breeding plumage. Acadia National Park, Maine, USA.

Alan Murphy / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, New Mexico

Alan Murphy / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male in territorial display, New Mexico

Alan Murphy / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male displaying, New Mexico

Glenn Bartley / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) female with chicks, Ontario, Canada

Glenn Bartley / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, British Columbia, Canada

Tim Fitzharris / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) female, British Columbia, Canada

LYNN M. STONE / Hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus), male (foreground) and female, swimming on freshwater pond, Sarasota, Florida, USA, February

LYNN M. STONE / Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) drake, on pond in Sarasota, Florida, USA, January

Mike Read / Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, Radipole Lake RSPB Reserve, Dorset March

Mike Read / Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, Radipole Lake RSPB Reserve, Dorset March

Mike Read / Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male on water, Radipole Lake RSPB Reserve, Dorset March

Steve Gettle / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male swimming, Lapeer State Game Area, Michigan

Steve Gettle / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male feeding on fish, Saginaw Bay, Michigan

Steve Gettle / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male swimming, Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, Michigan

Steve Gettle / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, Michigan

Barry Mansell / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes / Mergus cucullatus) female on water. Canaveral National Seashore, Merrit Island Florida, USA, January.

Donald M. Jones / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) female on small lake, western Montana

Donald M. Jones / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) female with young in lilly pads, western Montana

Gerrit Vyn / Adult female Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) in breeding plumage. Montezuma NWR, New York, USA, March.

Gerrit Vyn / Adult male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) in breeding plumage. Montezuma NWR, New York, USA, March.

Gerrit Vyn / Male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) in breeding plumage. Montezuma NWR, New York, USA, March.

Alan Williams / Male Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) with hood raised, captive, Norfolk, UK November

Alan Williams / Male Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) displaying, captive, Norfolk, UK, March

Guy Edwardes / Hooded merganser (Mergus / Lophodytes cucullatus) male in breeding plumage calling during courtship display, presumed wild bird at Radipole Lake RSPB reserve, Weymouth, Dorset, England, January

Guy Edwardes / Hooded merganser (Mergus / Lophodytes cucullatus) male displaying in breeding plumage, presumed wild bird at Radipole Lake RSPB reserve, Weymouth, Dorset, England, January 2009

Duncan Usher / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male calling, Northumberland, United Kingdom

Duncan Usher / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, Northumberland, United Kingdom

Ingrid Visser / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, North America

Roger Powell / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes / Mergus cucullatus) male displaying, Washington WWT, Tyne & Wear, UK

Roger Powell / Male Hooded merganser (Lophodytes / Mergus cucullatus) displaying, Washington WWT, Tyne & Wear, UK

Roger Powell / Male Hooded merganser (Lophodytes / Mergus cucullatus) displaying, Washington WWT, Tyne & Wear, UK

Geoff Simpson / Hooded Merganser {Lophodytes cucullatus} female, captive, UK

Geoff Simpson / Hooded merganser duck (Lophodytes cucullatus) drake in water, Martin Mere Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Lancashire, UK

Barry Mansell / Hooded merganser {Lophodytes cucullatus} Florida, USA.

Tim Fitzharris / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) female on lake with captured fish, North America

Tim Fitzharris / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) female, British Columbia, Canada

Tim Fitzharris / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) female portrait, British Columbia, Canada

Jeff Foott / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) female, Utah

Jeff Foott / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) males, Utah

Jeff Foott / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, Utah

Jeff Foott / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, Utah

Suzi Eszterhas / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) one week old orphan chick eating fish, International Bird Rescue, Fairfield, California

E.J. Peiker/ BIA / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) male, Arizona

Barry Mansell / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes / Mergus cucullatus) Florida, USA

Tim Fitzharris / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) female with bill tucked under wing, British Columbia, Canada

Roland Seitre / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) drake, native to North America

Glenn Bartley/ BIA / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) femalel following male, British Columbia, Canada

Glenn Bartley/ BIA / Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) males fighting, British Columbia, Canada