Male Hooded Merganser swimming in dark colored, rippling water. Facing the left, its "hood" is actually a crest that runs from top of the head to the base of the neck. It is raised in this picture so the large white patch can be seen from the back of its eye to the edge of the crest. Black on the rest of the head and neck, yellow eye, thin dark gray bill, white and black patches on its chest and neck with white edging on black wings. The sides are a light brown, and all these colors can be seen reflected in the water.

Male Hooded Merganser swimming in dark colored, rippling water. Facing the left, its "hood" is actually a crest that runs from top of the head to the base of the neck. It is raised in this picture so the large white patch can be seen from the back of its eye to the edge of the crest. Black on the rest of the head and neck, yellow eye, thin dark gray bill, white and black patches on its chest and neck with white edging on black wings. The sides are a light brown, and all these colors can be seen reflected in the water.