Hooded Merganser Bird Facts (Lophodytes cucullatus)

The Hooded Merganser is a striking duck with a distinctive, fan-shaped crest. Males display a black and white crest, chestnut flanks, and a black back. Their white breast is marked with two black bars.

Females are more subdued, with a cinnamon-colored crest and greyish-brown body. Both sexes have a thin, serrated bill and golden-yellow eyes, which turn bright yellow in breeding males.

The Hooded Merganser can be found in Woodland habitats.

The Hooded Merganser is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Hooded Merganser can be found in Wetland habitats.

The Hooded Merganser is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Hooded Merganser is not typically found in Urban habitats.

The Hooded Merganser is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Hooded Merganser is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Hooded Merganser is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Hooded Merganser is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Hooded Merganser is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Hooded Merganser is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Hooded Merganser is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Hooded Mergansers inhabit forested wetlands, secluded ponds, and slow-moving rivers across North America. They breed in the northern United States and southern Canada, favoring areas with mature trees for nesting.

During winter, they migrate to coastal estuaries and inland waters in the southern United States. Some populations remain year-round in the Pacific Northwest and parts of the eastern United States.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Hooded Merganser. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Canada United States of America

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Mexico

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Hooded Merganser exhibits remarkable agility, particularly in aquatic environments. Their ability to dive and manoeuvre underwater with precision, coupled with their keen eyesight for locating prey, demonstrates high agility. Their capacity to navigate through wooded swamps and perform elaborate courtship displays further supports this rating.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not exceptionally strong compared to larger waterfowl, Hooded Mergansers possess moderate strength. Their ability to dive and swim underwater, as well as their capacity to grip slippery prey with their serrated bills, indicates a decent level of strength for their size.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Hooded Mergansers show good adaptability, inhabiting various environments from forested wetlands to coastal estuaries. Their ability to thrive in both freshwater and marine habitats during different seasons, coupled with their flexibility in nesting sites (tree cavities or nest boxes), demonstrates considerable adaptability.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Generally, Hooded Mergansers are not particularly aggressive birds. They become more vocal and display more assertive behaviours during breeding season, but overall, they tend to be relatively peaceful. Their primary focus seems to be on foraging and breeding rather than territorial disputes.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Hooded Merganser's endurance is quite good, as evidenced by their migratory habits and diving abilities. Their capacity to perform frequent dives for food and to migrate between breeding and wintering grounds suggests a solid level of endurance. However, as short-distance migrants, they don't face the extreme endurance challenges of long-distance migratory species.

Hooded Mergansers primarily feed on small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. They use their serrated bills to grip slippery prey, diving underwater and swimming with their eyes open to locate food. Occasionally, they also consume plant material, especially during breeding season.

Hooded Mergansers are agile swimmers and divers, using their keen eyesight to locate prey underwater. They often shake their crests when alarmed or during courtship displays.

These ducks are generally quiet but become more vocal during breeding season, especially when performing elaborate courtship rituals.

Hooded Mergansers are generally quiet but become more vocal during breeding season. Males produce a low, rolling, frog-like croak, often described as 'croo-croo-crrrooo'. Females make a hoarse, guttural 'gak-gak-gak' call, particularly when disturbed or leading young.

Breeding season for Hooded Mergansers typically begins in late winter or early spring. Males perform elaborate courtship displays to attract females, including head-pumping and crest-raising.

Females select nest sites in tree cavities or nest boxes, often near water. They lay 7-15 cream-colored eggs and line the nest with down. Nests are sometimes shared with other female mergansers or wood ducks.

Incubation lasts about 30 days, performed solely by the female. Ducklings leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching, jumping from heights of up to 50 feet to reach water.

The Hooded Merganser typically lives for 10 to 12 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While currently listed as Least Concern, Hooded Mergansers face threats from habitat loss, particularly the destruction of mature forests near wetlands. Conservation efforts focus on protecting nesting habitats and maintaining water quality in their aquatic environments.

Look for Hooded Mergansers in wooded swamps and quiet, forested ponds
Listen for their distinctive, frog-like croaking call during breeding season
Observe their diving behavior, as they frequently submerge to hunt for food
In North America, watch for them in winter along coastal areas and unfrozen inland waters

Main predators include raccoons, minks, and large fish. Birds of prey such as hawks and owls may also target adults and young.

Hooded Mergansers can see clearly underwater, thanks to a special membrane that protects their eyes.
They are one of the few duck species that can breed in their first year of life.
Their serrated bills, which give them the nickname 'sawbill', help them grip slippery prey.

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