I only saw this small size bird from photos until yesterday!
Wondering around Normandale Lake with my telephoto lens I captured some small birds with “punk” hairstyles. First I guessed that they might be mandarine ducks, but googling the photos I believe that they are actually hooded mergansers.
Later I also learned that their “punk” hair is call crest, which can raise or lower. As nature designs male is handsomely patterned and colored and female is mostly dark brown. They are diving for fishes once a while. Their hair turns to flat soon after getting our of water but raise again after being “blow dried” by wind and warm sunlight.
They usually migrate to the south for winter. Since spring is around corner and weather is getting warmer and warmer each day, they start migrating back to the north. Minnesota is just their temporary rest place before they head further north toward Canada, where they can spend entire summertime with plenty resources of food.
After long brutal winter I am excited to see such a change of scenery.
Thanks for visiting my post!
I love the way you have answered the change of scenery challenge with your beautiful bird captures. Well done! I’m glad you were able to see the birds before they continued their northern migration.
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Thanks!
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What a fun choice for the challenge Yan – another creature’s change of scenery! We have hooded mergansers here on Kiawah most of the year. They’re an adorable little bird. I haven’t captured one with its crest up so great job on that!
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Your featured photo is definitely my fave. It looks like it’s posing for u.
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Great timing to capture that featured photo!
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Thanks!
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Love your take on this, Yan – fun birds and the header is just amazing.
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Thanks!
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What an interesting bird! I never saw one of them before. Great choice for the challenge, Yan.
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Wow. Excellent series. I love that banner shot.
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