In 2023 the population was estimated at 102,381 wood ducks, 20% higher than the long-term mean. The nest boxes also provide nesting sites for buffleheads, common goldeneyes and hooded mergansers.

Without a doubt, they’re tougher to splash than a wood duck. As for their kitchen quality — well, while the wood duck is prized table fare, the fishy breast meat of a hooded merganser can be ...

The male wood duck is one of the most spectacularly-colored ducks in Minnesota, making their resurgence a gift to Minnesota’s nature lovers. A lying drake hooded merganser.

As for their kitchen quality — well, while the wood duck is prized table fare, the fishy breast meat of a hooded merganser can be rendered fit for human consumption through tenderizing ...

Although Hooded Mergansers seem most at home in the water, they nest in tree cavities. They will also use rock crevices and Wood Duck boxes, as well. They prefer to nest close to water.

Bahls identified eight wood duck egg membranes, indicative of a successful hatch, as well as 25 unhatched wood duck and hooded merganser eggs. On top of all this was a feathery nest made by tree ...

But they’ve adapted to using the artificial nest boxes meant to attract wood ducks. In addition, forests have matured, creating more habitat for nesting, nurseries and feeding.

Hooded mergansers are one our most beautiful ducks. I know a lot of folks would argue that wood ducks are the most beautiful, but they are a bit too over-the-top for me.

Drake wood ducks aren’t the only waterfowl in Kansas with an Elvisy-looking do, with feathers that sweep back behind their heads. Hooded mergansers are common migrants that often spend the fall ...

The hooded merganser and wood duck do have something in common; they both nest in holes in large trees. If I can find this little merganser on my brook in winter, I have faith that I will someday ...

What is most interesting, and even a little surprising, is the fact that hooded mergansers nest up in trees. Wood ducks are well-known tree nesters, but they are by no means the only species that ...

Further afield Expect to see plenty of ducks, including hooded mergansers, at the 17th annual Shreve Migration Sensation in Wayne County on March 18. The event includes a variety of talks, plus ...