Odd duck - can you identify it?

[SanFranDianne]

In February, I took 2 photos of a duck or bird swimming in the lake behind our house. It hasn't reappeared yet, so I presume it came south for the winter. I checked our books of Florida birds, but can't find anything that faintly resembles it. Does anyone have a clue?

[Rbgold]

...

[kittygilchrist]

Google Image Result for http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/images/Hoodmerganser02.jpg (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/images/Hoodmerganser02.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/HoodedMerganser.htm&h=397&w=605&sz=76&tbnid=wCD_hnZ2yhKCwM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=114&zoom=1&usg=___wkG0QbICAbIjJAyl7Y-w683kqw=&docid=CzC8YPzjeLQyBM&sa=X&ei=HorHUca5KImm9ASZ04CACg&sqi=2&ved=0CJUBEP4dMAw)
Hooded Merganser. Oh my how beautiful!


In February, I took 2 photos of a duck or bird swimming in the lake behind our house. It hasn't reappeared yet, so I presume it came south for the winter. I checked our books of Florida birds, but can't find anything that faintly resembles it. Does anyone have a clue?

[rayschic]

Looks like a male Hooded Merganser to me.
Hooded Merganser, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/id)
(sorry kitty, I was typing at the same time)

[kfierle]

I think it might be a hooded merganzer (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/id).

[kittygilchrist]

Looks like a male Hooded Merganser to me.
Hooded Merganser, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/id)
(sorry kitty, I was typing at the same time)

I see that you were typing at the same time. It took forever for the link to load!
Cornell is great for bird info..
K.

[SanFranDianne]

Many thanks to all of you who identified the male Hooded Merganser. Jack and I will be reading all about it, thanks to your links. I will sleep better tonight, and I'll look forward to his return in the winter. Villagers rule!!!

[kittygilchrist]

Many thanks to all of you who identified the male Hooded Merganser. Jack and I will be reading all about it, thanks to your links. I will sleep better tonight, and I'll look forward to his return in the winter. Villagers rule!!!

yeah, we rock and rule! yea us! beautiful photo you got. telephoto?

[SanFranDianne]

yeah, we rock and rule! yea us! beautiful photo you got. telephoto?

Thanks for the compliment. No telephoto, no tripod. Just a handheld Canon pocket camera with a decent zoom -- and a lanai that's close to the lake (thus the tree and supporting beam on the right).