Ah hah... The mythical Wooded Merganser.

Thanks for doing that research Bill. Most interesting.

Best,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD



On 1/26/09, Bill Hubick <> wrote:
> I decided to respond to the group as I think this is a ve
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I decided to respond to the group as I think this is a very interesting
> record. How about female Hooded Merganser x Wood Duck?
>
> My initial thought was that the first image suggested a female
> Hooded Merganser. If it were a hybrid, one would think it would have to pair
> with a fellow cavity nester. I've heard of Hooded Merganser x goldeneye
> hybrids, but then I wondered about pairings of our state's two cavity
> nesting ducks. Then it started falling into place. The lower part coloration
> works better for hen Wood Duck than goldeneye, Bufflehead, or other
> mergansers. Also, note that if you zoom into the first image, you can see a
> faint white outline around the bill, as on a hen Wood Duck (example
> here: http://www.billhubick.com/images2/wood_duck_hen_ha_md_20080711.jpg).
> An Internet search proved that such a hybridization has been documented.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Bill
>  Bill Hubick
> Pasadena, Maryland
> 
> http://www.billhubick.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: James Tyler Bell <>
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Fw: Unusual mergansers, Howard Co.
>
> Hi Tyler,
>
> I just came across some recent photos of a couple of unusual mergansers at
> Centennial Lake (Columbia, Howard Co.):
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/9106521@N07/3223582517/
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/9106521@N07/3223582363/
>
> I was thinking these might be worth linking to MDOsprey.  I've tried to
> access the listserv, but can't seem to post anything.  If you think these
> ducks merit further attention, would you be able to post the above info?
>
> Sorry for the completely random, unsolicited e-mail!
>
> Cheers,
> Dan
>