What kind of bird did I just rescue?

[HorseGirlAbby]

Disappointing Abs
Tag some bird nerds from the other thread.

@StinkyAcres or @Bakbuk might be able to confirm ID.

 

[Susan Skylark]

It is a juvenile diving duck, hooded merganser is a good guess. If you can’t find a wildlife rehabber release it in a fish rich body of water with plenty of cover around the edges, he’s old enough to fend for himself and injuries should heal with time. May be too young to fly and diving ducks need a running take off on the water to get air borne but he can dive to escape predators until he can fly.

 

[Susan Skylark]

You can’t add a wild duck to your flock regardless (illegal) but a diving duck would be thoroughly unhappy in such an environment. We found a lost hatchling but also found his mom and siblings (adorable and the kids were in love) but sending him home was the right thing to do!

 

[BrukeyBrooke]

So, how long should I keep it indoors? I can’t stomach the thought of taking it to the creek and then finding it dead tomorrow…

 

[Bakbuk]

I’m almost positive that it’s a Hooded Merganser, but only a fledgling which is why it doesn’t look like the adults.

Fledgling:
View attachment 3904914
View attachment 3904928
View attachment 3904929

Adult male and female:
View attachment 3904915

This is correct.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I agree, it is a Hooded Merganser, but it is older than a fledgling. You must find a wildlife rehabilitator.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

So, how long should I keep it indoors? I can’t stomach the thought of taking it to the creek and then finding it dead tomorrow…

It's not meant to live in a creek. As a previous poster said, find a wildlife rehabilitator to care for it. You could start by calling your local Game Warden or call a wild bird rescue. It'd be best to have someone care for it that specializes in birds and that will be able to properly release it back into the wild.

From experience, I have rescued a wild duckling and was able to get it to a wild bird rescue and was able to call for an update of its wellbeing. And I've called them over other injured baby birds. If you can't meet up with them from them being too far away, they may have someone in your area who can make the trip for you.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I’m almost positive that it’s a Hooded Merganser, but only a fledgling which is why it doesn’t look like the adults.

Fledgling:
View attachment 3904914
View attachment 3904928
View attachment 3904929

Adult male and female:
View attachment 3904915

Oh my goodness, I love those adults

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Oh my goodness, I love those adults

I’m jealous they seem to wake up with a better hair day than I do

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hm. Thought it might be a loon. Shows what I know. Good luck finding a rehabber asap.