Clutch averages between 9-12. Peak nesting in April in New England. Hen carries young on her back for a while, then leads them while they follow in quite a straight line. Consume mostly fish, and many kinds, depending on where. Salmon, trout, carp, suckers, sunfish, perch.
Most fish taken are non-game.
Nest from NE US and E. Canada to Alaska. Variety of sites, opportunistic. Lay in nest of mallards, gadwall, lesser scaup. Some broods up to 21- combined broods. Winter along shore of both coasts and Gulf, and on Great Lakes.