Hooded Merganser

(Lophodytes cucullatus)

Conservation Status
Hooded Merganser
Photo by Elizabeth Daughton
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB, SNRN - Unranked Breeding and Nonbreeding

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
 
Description
 
 

The male has a bold white crest that is outlined in black. The female is dark gray above.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

16 to 18 in length

24 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Forest edge ponds, wetlands, lakes, rivers

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

April to November

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon to common migrant and breeder

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Anseriformes (waterfowl)  
 

Family

Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans)  
  Subfamily Anatinae (dabbling ducks)  
 

Genus

Lophodytes (hooded mergansers)  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Steve Striedinger

 
    Hooded Merganser      
 

Bobbi Johnson

 
    Hooded Merganser      
 

Ann Michels

 
    Hooded Merganser   Hooded Merganser  
           
    Hooded Merganser      
 

Ramona Abrego

 
    Hooded Merganser   Hooded Merganser  
           
    Hooded Merganser   Hooded Merganser  
           
    Hooded Merganser   Hooded Merganser  
           
    Hooded Merganser   Hooded Merganser  
           
    Hooded Merganser   Hooded Merganser  
 

Dan W. Andree

 
 

Hooded Merganser - male -

 
    Hooded Merganser      
 

Elizabeth Daughton

 
 

Hooded merganser, Colonial Church pond, Edina, April 2.

 
    Hooded Merganser      
 

Kirk Nelson

 
 

Wood ducks (male and female) and female Hooded Merganser with ducklings

 
    Wood ducks (male and female) and female Hooded Merganser with ducklings      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Hooded Merganser
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
 
  Hooded Merganser  
  Hooded Merganser
Ed McVicker
 
  Hooded Merganser  
  Hooded Merganser
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Hooded Merganser  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Hooded Merganser
Mark Vance
 
   
 
About

Published on Jan 23, 2013

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) - By: Mark H. Vance - Be sure to check out all of Mark's bird videos at http://www.youtube.com/markinsrq5 Please subscribe if you like birds, many more great videos to come! Thanks

Mark Vance
5342 Clark Rd #144
Sarasota, Fl 34233

The Celery Fields - Sarasota, Florida Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/groups/218447741581516/
Please join!

   
  hooded merganser couple
groenelantaarn
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jan 30, 2011

Lophodytes cucullatus couple... the best looking merganser blanckendaell tuitjenhorn holland

   
  Hooded Mergansers, "The River Running" - St Brigids Day 2014
Don Gagnon
 
   
 
About

Published on Feb 2, 2014

Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus), Swimming in Taunton River, near Riverside Avenue, Somerset, Massachusetts, Saint Brigid's Day, Saturday afternoon, February 1, 2014 - Canon PowerShot SX50 HS MVI_71986; 2:19 min.

Music: "The River Running" by Barrie Gledden, Simeon Wood, Richard Lacy (World, 2:18)

   
  Hooded Mergansers
Birdchick
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Apr 18, 2008

Flirting and preening

   
  Hooded Merganser Courtship at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge.mpg
Alex Galt
 
   
 
About

Published on Mar 11, 2012

These Hooded Mergansers were courting on the Louisa Division of Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in March. If you listen close you can hear the frog-like grrrrooooo call of the males during their head-throw displays.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
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  Steve Striedinger
12/2/2022

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Hooded Merganser  
  Ann Michels
3/12/2021

Location: Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis

Hooded Merganser

 
  Ramona Abrego
4/28/2019

Location: Becker County

Hooded Merganser

 
  Ramona Abrego
4/23/2019

Location: Becker County

Hooded Merganser

 
  Elaine Maples
4/17/2019

Location: 3098 Cuneen Court, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Just beautiful...In the small lake behind our house!

  E Holt
7/11/2018

Location: Blanche Lake, Ottertail County

a female and her ducklings swimming close to the north shore of the lake.  Saw a similar scene two years ago around the same time of year. 

  Dan W. Andree
April 2018

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn.

Hooded Merganser

 
  Denise McNeff
4/23/2018

Location: Andover, MN

Male and female pair in wooded pond, alongside a Mallard duck pair.

  Bridget Sullivan
4/2/2018

Location: Minnehaha Creek by 36th Avenue.

Both a male and female.

The two birds were beautiful!!

  Elizabeth Daughton
4/2/2017

Location: Colonial Church pond, Edina

Hooded Merganser

 
  Kirk Nelson
5/29/2016

Location: Crosby Farm Regional Park

Wood ducks (male and female) and female Hooded Merganser with ducklings

Wood ducks (male and female) and female Hooded Merganser with ducklings

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

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