Hooded Merganser

(Lophodytes cucullatus)

Conservation  •  Description  •  Habitat  •  Ecology  •  Distribution  •  Taxonomy

Hooded Merganser - Featured photo
Photo by Elizabeth Daughton

Conservation Status

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

 

Diet

 

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

Subordinate Taxa

 

Synonyms

Mergus cucullatus

Visitor Photos

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Steve Striedinger

Hooded Merganser 17

Bobbi Johnson

Hooded Merganser 16

Ann Michels

Hooded Merganser 13
Hooded Merganser 14
Hooded Merganser 15

Ramona Abrego

Hooded Merganser 03
Hooded Merganser 04
Hooded Merganser 05
Hooded Merganser 06
Hooded Merganser 07
Hooded Merganser 08
Hooded Merganser 09
Hooded Merganser 10
Hooded Merganser 11
Hooded Merganser 12

Dan W. Andree

Hooded Merganser 02
Hooded Merganser - male -

Elizabeth Daughton

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

Kirk Nelson

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

Minnesota Seasons Photos

Slideshows

Hooded Merganser
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Hooded Merganser
Ed McVicker

Hooded Merganser
JMC Nature Photos

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.

Visitor Sightings

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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.

Bryan Nielsen
3/24/2026

Location: Rosemount, MN

Steve Striedinger
12/2/2022

Hooded Merganser

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Ann Michels
3/12/2021

Hooded Merganser

Location: Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis

Ramona Abrego
4/28/2019

Hooded Merganser

Location: Becker County

Ramona Abrego
4/23/2019

Hooded Merganser

Location: Becker County

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

Hooded Merganser

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn.

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

Hooded Merganser

Location: Colonial Church pond, Edina

Kirk Nelson
5/29/2016

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

Location: Crosby Farm Regional Park

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

Minnesota Seasons Sightings

Blaine Preserve SNA

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Hyland Lake Park Reserve

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Maplewood State Park

Minnesota Valley NWR, Louisville Swamp Unit

Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve

Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Rice Lake State Park

Whitetail Woods Regional Park

Wood-Rill SNA