Canada (Ontario)
May 19 2016
adult, multiple species
Ottawa - What's wrong with this picture? Those are two of four Hooded Merganser ducklings with some of the Wood Duck's 9 ducklings of her own. The odd thing is mother duck had all 13 with her and no sign of Hoodie, at least not right there. We thought of a couple of possibilities. She was playing babysitter while Hoodie went on her own for a swim or she was the mother of the four oddballs but did't lay the eggs. Both birds laid eggs in the same tree nest and the Wood Duck ended up brooding. Interesting regardless.
May 20 2016