Hooded Merganser


	Hooded Merganser
	Lophodytes cucullatus

A small fish-eating duck of wooded ponds, the Hooded Merganser nests in holes in trees. It is frequently seen on shallow waters where its only waterfowl companion is the Wood Duck.

Interesting Information

The Hooded Merganser is the second-smallest of the six living species of mergansers (only the Smew of Eurasia is smaller) and is the only one restricted to North America.
Although up to 44 Hooded Merganser eggs have been found in one nest, one female probably does not lay more than about 13. Larger clutches result when more than one female lays eggs in a nest.
The Hooded Merganser finds its prey underwater by sight. The merganser can actually change the refractive properties of its eyes to enhance its underwater vision. In addition, the nictitating membrane (third eyelid) is very transparent and probably acts to protect the eye during swimming, just like a pair of goggles.

Description

Adult Description

Small to medium-sized duck.
Long, narrow bill.
Fluffy, fan-shaped crest.
Male with large white patch in crest.
Length Range: 41-48 cm (16-19 in)
Weight: 680 g (24 oz)
Size: Medium (9 - 16 in)
Color Primary: White, Brown, Black, Sheen or Iridescence
Underparts: White
Upperparts: Black and white.
Back Pattern: Solid
Belly Pattern: Solid
Breast Pattern: Solid

Sex Differences

Male Description

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage

Circular crest with large white patch, outlined in black. Face black. Eyes gold. Back black. Sides rusty. Chest white, bordered by black and white stripes. Bill dark with yellow base.

Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage

Back, sides, and breast grayish brown. Belly white. Crest dusky, not brown like female's. Eyes yellow. Bill black.

Female Description

Body brownish. Head brownish with bushy rufous crest. Small white patch on chin. Breast and neck slaty. Tail brownish. Wings blackish brown. Small white patch at base of wings. Eyes brownish buff. Upper mandible blackish green with orange edge, lower mandible orange or yellowish.

Immature

Immature resembles adult female. First-year male similar to female, but crest dull brown with a white patch, some black feathers on head and sides, bill dark, and eyes yellow.

Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide by David Allen Sibley

Habitat

Breeds in forested wetlands.
In migration and in winter found in wider range of open waters, along coasts, and in shallower waters than other mergansers.

Behavior

Dives underwater to catch prey.

Food

Fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans (especially crayfish).

Taxonomy

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Subfamily:	Anatinae
Genus:	Lophodytes
Species:	Lophodytes cucullatus

Similar Species

Bufflehead male in breeding plumage is more white overall, lacks rusty sides, and has a larger white patch that wraps around the back of its greenish black head. Female and nonbreeding male Buffleheads have distinctive oval white cheek patches.
Female Wood Duck has a sleek crest and a white inverted comma around the eye.
Other female mergansers have thinner crests and red on bill.

Bird Sound

Silent except in courtship when male gives a deep rolling frog-like sound. Wings produce a loud whistling in flight.

Eggs look like this

Photo taken from: ARCTOS Collaborative Collection Management Solution

Videos

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser Female

	Sources Used To Construct This Page
	Dugger, B. D., K. M. Dugger, and L. H. Fredrickson. 1994. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). In The Birds of North America, No. 98 (A. Poole, and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

	All photos and videos © Rick Swartzentrover - Free for non-profit use.