Exuberance

On February 12, 2017February 7, 2017 By Mike and Christy

We were treated to quite a show by this Male Hooded Merganser the other day and unfortunately for him we seemed more interested in his display than the female Hoodie he was courting. To begin with, he took on the other male in the pond in a typical Hooded Merganser head bobbing competition. He appeared to win that battle easily. Next he danced around his lady bobbing his head up and down and to our surprise would crook his neck sideways and belt out a little tune for her. The female hoodie would occasionally glance over his way, tuck her head back into her feathers and continue with her afternoon nap. He kept head bobbing and singing for quite some time and we got to witness quite a show but were left wondering was the female just playing hard to get, or was his show subpar?

38 thoughts on “Exuberance”

RV John

In the pictures he sure looks to be putting on a show. Nice catch.

LikeLiked by 1 person

January 30, 2015 at 4:09 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Thanks, it was quite a show and just went on and on without a reaction from the female. Whats a guy gotta do?
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  January 30, 2015 at 4:11 pm Reply
Boeta

Those eyes….Lovely show, looks like he needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat, to impress that one….

LikeLiked by 1 person

January 30, 2015 at 4:10 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Thanks you may be right on having to pull a rabbit out of a hat. She was probably just playing her role in hard to get.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  January 30, 2015 at 4:12 pm Reply
Jet Eliot

Well he is certainly impressing THIS female! Fantastic photo and great story, Mike. You are very lucky to have seen it, and we are lucky you shared it. 🙂

LikeLiked by 2 people

January 30, 2015 at 4:30 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Thanks Jet, it was a quiet day and quiet cold which made us the only ones out that day which I think made the birds a bit more comfortable. We have seen the head bobbing contests before but the singing was a first. Hope your weekend is a great one.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  January 30, 2015 at 5:47 pm Reply
zannyro

Made me laugh the minute I saw it!

LikeLike

January 30, 2015 at 4:37 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  It was quite a performance. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
  
  LikeLike
  
  January 30, 2015 at 5:47 pm Reply
  1. zannyro
    
    You too!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    January 30, 2015 at 7:31 pm Reply
    1. Mike Bizeau
      
      Thanks I will.
      
      LikeLike
      
      January 30, 2015 at 9:42 pm Reply
Eliza Waters

Beautiful bird and photo – the reflection is mesmerizing. I think the female thinks he is bit early in his advances and after all, she was trying to get some rest. Hmmm, some male behaviors are universal, I guess. 😉

LikeLiked by 1 person

January 30, 2015 at 4:42 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Indeed some male behaviors are universal and as the photo suggests some female behaviors are universal as well. 🙂
  
  Have a fun filled weekend.
  
  LikeLiked by 2 people
  
  January 30, 2015 at 5:48 pm Reply
  1. Eliza Waters
    
    LOL 😀
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    January 30, 2015 at 7:11 pm Reply
    1. Mike Bizeau
      
      🙂
      
      LikeLike
      
      January 30, 2015 at 9:42 pm Reply
nosuchthingasastraightline

Wow! Nice shot. Love it.

LikeLiked by 1 person

January 30, 2015 at 6:08 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Thanks, it was just one of this lucky days when you watch and by golly, something fun happens. Hope you have a great weekend.
  
  LikeLike
  
  January 30, 2015 at 6:18 pm Reply
Suzan

Brilliant description. 😀
And I really like his reflection in the water, btw. A beautiful bird, which can’t be witnessed in Europe, except in Great Britain or Ireland and there only on rare occasions, I’ve just read.

His gaze seems a bit stressed though, the poor guy. But how charming and impressive, all this effort just to win his lady. But he doesn’t seem to be a show-off – it’s most likely the female playing games. And indeed, some male and female behaviors seem to be equally universal. But isn’t this also part of the fun? 😉

LikeLike

January 30, 2015 at 6:35 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  I Suzan, we are lucky to have these guys in out neck of the woods. We only see them on a few ponds around here in the winter. In summer they move on up north.
  
  I agree this may be a universal story of courtship behavior conserved across the board and he sure was no show off just good at the game so to speak. Hope you have a gray weekend.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  January 30, 2015 at 9:41 pm Reply
Just Jude

This is a wonderful picture and you certainly enjoyed a treat from the natural. i haven’t seen a Hooded Merganser since my last trip to Quetico Provincial Park. — back in the 1996. Thanks for the treat.

LikeLiked by 1 person

January 30, 2015 at 8:59 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Hi Jude, they are a treat for us as well and only around in the winter and scattered about on a few local ponds. By early March they will have moved on. Hope you have a great weekend.
  
  LikeLike
  
  January 30, 2015 at 9:44 pm Reply
Jane Lurie

Amazing birds!

LikeLiked by 1 person

January 31, 2015 at 5:46 am Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Thanks Jane, they are quite a fun group to watch for sure and good looking. Hope your weekend is going well.
  
  LikeLike
  
  January 31, 2015 at 2:19 pm Reply
Rolling Harbour

Terrific photo. An e.g. of ‘giving it your all’! RH

LikeLiked by 1 person

January 31, 2015 at 11:47 am Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  He was working it for sure. Thanks for taking some time to give a bit of feedback as we really appreciate it. Cheers.
  
  LikeLike
  
  January 31, 2015 at 2:20 pm Reply
Alix

Fantastic. What a show this must have been. Lucky capture.

LikeLike

January 31, 2015 at 1:59 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Hi Alix, it was quite a show and no ticket required. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
  
  LikeLike
  
  January 31, 2015 at 2:21 pm Reply
John M

Friendzoned? 🙂

LikeLike

February 2, 2015 at 11:47 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Just learned a new word, thanks and perhaps it was indeed friendzoned. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  February 3, 2015 at 2:03 pm Reply
Pierre Cenerelli

I love these birds, especially when they’re fooling around like this!

LikeLike

February 3, 2015 at 6:25 am Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Hi Pierre, the hoodies are sure unique birds with such a fun display to observe. They will only be around here for another month or so then on their way to the breeding grounds.
  
  LikeLike
  
  February 3, 2015 at 2:37 pm Reply
Jenn

Oh I find him to be sooo cool… Magnificent in his own world!!! He looks a bit royal in my book! Thanks for sharing! 🤗

LikeLike

February 12, 2017 at 7:44 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Hi Jenn, these guys are indeed magnificent and perhaps royal as well. That day there were several out on the pond bobbing heads and singing with all their might to impress the ladies. Very fun to observe.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  February 14, 2017 at 1:36 am Reply
Eliza Waters

You really got to hand it to these guys for trying! Handsome capture, Mike.

LikeLike

February 12, 2017 at 8:19 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Hi Eliza, yes they do give it their all in trying to court the ladies. So very fun to observe.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  February 14, 2017 at 1:33 am Reply
Pingback: In lumina
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  HI and thanks for sharing the photo. Hop your doing great and wishing you a great weekend.
  
  LikeLike
  
  February 18, 2017 at 1:50 pm Reply
Birder's Journey

What a super title for this post – exactly the right word for this!

LikeLike

April 29, 2017 at 7:10 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Thanks, this guy sure was putting on show that afternoon.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  May 3, 2017 at 2:26 am Reply