Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

40–49 cmLength614 gWeight

The hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is a species of fish-eating duck in the subfamily Anatinae.

Busiest months: November–January and March · Most records: United States, Canada, Bermuda

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: November–January and March · Most records: United States, Canada, Bermuda

Hooded Merganser has been recorded at 778 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 27 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWRUnited States12,203 records
Reifel Bird SanctuaryCanada11,961 records
Union Bay Natural Area/Montlake FillUnited States10,561 records

More places

HUNTLEY MEADOWS PARKUnited States9,091 records
Tommy Thompson ParkCanada8,780 records
Edwin B. Forsythe NWRUnited States7,338 records
Central ParkUnited States5,958 records
Great Meadows NWR – Concord UnitUnited States5,800 records
Horn Pond Recreation AreaUnited States5,757 records
Minnesota Valley NWR – Bass PondsUnited States5,493 records

Countries and regions with the most records

United States Canada Bermuda Mexico United Kingdom Bahamas Portugal Netherlands

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 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 Greek: lophos meaning 'crest', and dutes meaning 'diver'.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Hooded Merganser?

The Hooded Merganser is about 40–49 cm long and weighs around 614 g.

Where does the Hooded Merganser live?

Its breeding range: North America: southeastern Alaska to northwestern USA; southern Manitoba to Nova Scotia (central, southeastern Canada) to eastern Texas and northern Florida (eastern, southeastern USA). It is most often recorded in United States, Canada and Bermuda.

When is the best time to see the Hooded Merganser?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, March, November and December (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Hooded Merganser endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Hooded Merganser as Least Concern.

What does the Hooded Merganser eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Hooded Merganser in?

It belongs to the family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae), order Anseriformes.

At a glance

Length: 40–49 cm
Weight: 614 g
Habitat: Wetland
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: On the water surface
Migration: Migratory
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 187 mm
Tail: 86 mm
Bill: 40 mm
Tarsus: 29 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

North America: southeastern Alaska to northwestern USA; southern Manitoba to Nova Scotia (central, southeastern Canada) to eastern Texas and northern Florida (eastern, southeastern USA)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2