Hooded Merganser Parasitism

Todd got this picture of a Hooded Merganser in Bismarck that had 15 ducklings - surely a result of nest parasitism. Another Hoody laid some eggs in this girl’s nest.

That is common in cavity nesting ducks; both within species and between species. The photo below is a backyard box in Bismarck with what we think are 5 Hoody eggs and 1 Wood Duck egg.

The third picture from yesterday is a Flicker in that same box. We don’t know it’s intent, but it may not be good. In the south, Red-bellied Woodpeckers destroy more Wood Duck eggs than almost any other “normal” predator.

Frank