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Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus ORDER: ANSERIFORMES FAMILY: ANATIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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A small fish-eating duck of wooded ponds, the Hooded Merganser nests in holes in trees. It is frequently seen on shallow waters where its only waterfowl companion is the Wood Duck.

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Appearance

Ducks
Ducks
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small to medium-sized duck.
  • Long, narrow bill.
  • Fluffy, fan-shaped crest.
  • Male with large white patch in crest.

Male Description

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Circular crest with large white patch, outlined in black. Face black. Eyes gold. Back black. Sides rusty. Chest white, bordered by black and white stripes. Bill dark with yellow base.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Back, sides, and breast grayish brown. Belly white. Crest dusky, not brown like female's. Eyes yellow. Bill black.

Female Description

Body brownish. Head brownish with bushy rufous crest. Small white patch on chin. Breast and neck slaty. Tail brownish. Wings blackish brown. Small white patch at base of wings. Eyes brownish buff. Upper mandible blackish green with orange edge, lower mandible orange or yellowish.

Immature Description

Immature resembles adult female. First-year male similar to female, but crest dull brown with a white patch, some black feathers on head and sides, bill dark, and eyes yellow.

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Hooded Merganser Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Male breeding
    Zoom In

    Hooded Merganser

    Male breeding
    • Crest may be raised (pictured) or lowered
    • © William L. Newton / CLO, Iroquois NWR, New York
  • Male breeding
    Zoom In

    Hooded Merganser

    Male breeding
    • Crest may be raised or lowered (pictured)
    • © William L. Newton / CLO, Iroquois NWR, New York
  • Female
    Zoom In

    Hooded Merganser

    Female
    • Crest may be raised or lowered (pictured)
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Iroquois NWR, New York, May 2000
  • Female
    Zoom In

    Hooded Merganser

    Female
    • Crest may be raised or lowered (pictured)
    • © William L. Newton / CLO, Iroquois NWR, New York
  • Male nonbreeding
    Zoom In

    Hooded Merganser

    Male nonbreeding
    • © J.R.Woodward/CLO

Similar Species

  • Bufflehead male in breeding plumage is more white overall, lacks rusty sides, and has a larger white patch that wraps around the back of its greenish black head. Female and nonbreeding male Buffleheads have distinctive oval white cheek patches.
  • Female Wood Duck has a sleek crest and a white inverted comma around the eye.
  • Other female mergansers have thinner crests and red on bill.