Male Hooded Merganser at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge

While parked along the Sally Jones Causeway at Oklahoma’s Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, I watched a male Hooded Merganser paddle into view along the shoreline. I had been photographing American White Pelicans, so this sharp black-and-white duck stood out immediately. From inside my truck, I was able to track him as he worked the edge of the lake.

I took several images as he swam slowly along the bank, diving often and resurfacing just long enough for another look. The calm water and low winter light made for clean reflections and steady shooting conditions.

Wildlife Notes: Male Hooded Merganser Behavior

The Hooded Merganser is a fish-eating duck built for underwater hunting. Males are easy to recognize by their bold black-and-white crest, which they raise and lower depending on mood and activity. When relaxed, the crest sits close to the head. When alert, it fans open into a sharp white oval.

This male dove repeatedly while foraging along the shoreline. Hooded Mergansers rely on excellent underwater vision to catch fish, crayfish, and other small aquatic prey. Their eyes can adjust to changing light conditions underwater, and they also have a transparent third eyelid that protects their vision while diving.

To grip slippery prey, Hooded Mergansers have a narrow bill lined with backward-facing serrations. These tooth-like edges help keep struggling fish from escaping. Although I did not photograph him with prey in his bill, his frequent dives clearly showed how active he was while feeding.

While I stayed focused on the male, the female remained farther out on open water. This is common behavior, especially during winter, when pairs may feed in the same general area but keep some distance between them.

Photography Notes: How I Shot the Male Hooded Merganser

I photographed this male Hooded Merganser from inside my truck along the causeway. This position gave me a steady shooting platform while keeping disturbance low. The bird stayed comfortable with my presence and continued feeding without changing behavior.

The fast shutter speed helped freeze the motion as he surfaced between dives. At 800mm, I was able to fill the frame while keeping enough room for clean water reflections. Even in winter light, the contrast between the dark head and white crest exposed well without clipping highlights.

Image Information

• Date: 11/28/23
• Time: 09:16 AM
• Camera: Canon EOS R7
• Lens: Canon RF 800mm F11
• ISO: 2500
• Aperture: 11
• Shutter: 1/1600
• Exp. Comp.: -0.3
• Lens (mm): 800

A Winter Encounter at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge

Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge continues to be one of my most reliable winter locations for waterfowl photography. Each visit offers something different, even when I return to the same stretch of road or shoreline. This male Hooded Merganser was a perfect example of how much activity can unfold right along the edge of the lake.

If you want to see another Hooded Merganser I photographed on the Sally Jones Causeway, here is a link to a post from last summer: Female or Immature Hooded Merganser?

Here are a few other birds I photographed on this same outing:

• Close-Up Photos of a Double-crested Cormorant
• American White Pelicans in Flight at Sally Jones Lake
• An American White Pelican in Action