Hi All,
I was also stymied by an immature Hooded Merganser recently. It took a
couple of visits and lots of careful observing before the light bulb lit.
Madge and Burn, Waterfowl, also show the erect tail on an immature male (see
Plate 44).
Cheers
Gail Spitler
Johnsons Landing, BC
spitler at wkpowerlink.com