Merganser in reverse?

[Kelly Frame]

I saw a hooded merganser do something this morning that I can't find mentioned in a bit of searching. Two pairs were near each other, which resulted in one of the males leaving his female and getting into a dispute with the male in the other pair. They did their usual head bobbing, chasing, etc.

After a bit of squabbling, the male turned his back to the pair, brought his tail very vertical into the air, and did 4 or 5 very deliberate "back-pedals", moving in reverse towards the pair. I'm not sure if this was directed at the male or the female in the pair, but I have never seen this before. I guess I didn't even realize that a merganser had a reverse gear.

Anyone seen this before or know what it's all about?

[John Chardine]

Hi Kelly- not sure what this might mean but I think I can find out. I'll be back.