Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
Omnivore
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
614 g
About This Species
The male's fan-shaped, black-and-white crest is unmistakable when raised during courtship displays on quiet ponds, wooded swamps, and slow streams. This small diving duck feeds on fish and aquatic invertebrates and nests in tree cavities near water, sometimes using nest boxes provided for wood ducks. Winter concentrations on ice-free water and spring courtship displays both offer good, close views across much of North America.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Watching from a stationary spot on shore rather than paddling directly toward a group lets birds continue diving and displaying naturally.
- Migratory waterfowl are protected under federal law in the US and Canada, with hunting regulated by season and limit, so nest cavities and non-hunting encounters should not involve handling or disturbance.
- Leaving dead trees and snags standing near water, where permitted, helps preserve the cavity nest sites this species depends on.
LCAvesAnseriformesAnatidae
Seasonal Activity
3,205,050 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
Traits
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 614 g
Photo
(c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ashley M Bradford
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.