In winter, the only season it is seen in the United States, the male varied with black, white, and silvery-gray, the bill orange and black.
In summer he has much more black than white or silver, with some bright-reddish feathers on the wings.

The bill is black and orange; the eyes are red.
A Citizen of North America and other parts of the northern hemisphere, never going very far south, and making his summer home in the Arctic regions.

He is a noisy, lively, sociable Duck, who has in spring some pleasing notes, so mellow and musical that he may almost be said to sing; but he is not choice or dainty in his food, and the flesh is too rank for House People to eat.

He has many absurd names besides "Old Squaw." The Hooded Merganser Length sixteen and a half to eighteen inches.
Male: a beautiful black and white crest rising up high in a rounded form, but very thin from side to side, like a hood ironed flat.

Head, neck, and back black; belly and breast white; sides cinnamon-brown with fine black bars; a white mirror with black edges on the wing.