Hooded Merganser

§ Quick facts

§ Encyclopedia

The hooded merganser is a species of fish-eating duck in the subfamily Anatinae. It is the only extant species in the genus Lophodytes. The genus name derives from the Greek language: lophos meaning 'crest', and dutes meaning 'diver'. The bird is striking in appearance; both sexes have crests that they can raise or lower, and the breeding plumage of the male is handsomely patterned and coloured. The hooded merganser has a sawbill but is not classified as a typical merganser.

Source: Wikipedia — Hooded merganser · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Male has a black head with a large white fan-shaped crest (raised or lowered), black-and-white body, and cinnamon flanks. Female gray-brown with a shaggy rusty crest.

Similar species. Bufflehead male is smaller with a rounded white head patch; the female's wispy cinnamon crest and thin bill mark a Hooded Merganser.

Voice. Male gives a frog-like, rolling 'crrrooo' in courtship (the 'sawbill' grunt).

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Varies by species: aquatic plants, seeds, invertebrates, fish.

Behavior. A small fish- and crayfish-eating diving duck of wooded ponds; nests in tree cavities. Males raise and lower a spectacular fan-shaped crest in display.

§ Range

Across North America

§ Habitat

Wooded ponds, slow streams, beaver flowages

§ Threats

Loss of dead trees with cavities for nests, pollution.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the hooded merganser is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Leave dead trees standing where safe. Install nest boxes. Maintain water quality.

§ Further reading

• Wikipedia — Hooded merganser
• www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Lophodytes cucullatus
• IUCN Red List — search for Lophodytes cucullatus
• GBIF occurrence records
• Encyclopedia of Life — Lophodytes cucullatus

§ Sources cited

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
• National Audubon Society
• iNaturalist
• IUCN Red List