This is a Male Hooded Merganser I photographed at my neighbors pond near the Ouachita National Forest here in Arkansas (2016). This was the first winter that I saw a pair in this pond and have not seen them since.

Male Hooded Merganser
Male Hooded Merganser

How I Got The Shot – Male Hooded Merganser

I was sitting on a dock hand holding a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a Canon EF 100 – 400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens attached.

Camera Settings

  • AV Mode
  • Back-button Focus
  • Aperture f5.6
  • ISO 1000
  • Shutter speed – 1/320 of a second
  • Auto White Balance
  • Exposure Mode – Auto
  • Single Point, Continuous Auto Focus
  • Metering Mode – Evaluative
  • Focal Length – 400 mm