Ducks and geese (Anatidae)
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus. Small fish, crayfish and aquatic insects.
Ducks and geese (Anatidae)Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- Scientific name
- Lophodytes cucullatus
- Length
- 15.8–19.3 in
- Weight
- 16–31 oz
- Nest
- Tree cavity or nest box near water
- Entrance hole
- 4 × 3 in oval
- Clutch
- 6–18 eggs
- Incubation
- 26–41 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Identification
- Male's white fan crest bordered in black
- Female rusty-crested and grey-brown
- Thin, serrated fish bill
Voice
Low croaks and grunts; generally quiet.
Diet and feeding
Small fish, crayfish and aquatic insects.
What do hooded mergansers eat? · Best feeder for hooded mergansers
Hooded Mergansers by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | January–May |
| Arizona | Winter visitor | — |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | February–May |
| British Columbia | Summer breeder | March–May |
| California | Year-round resident | January–May |
| Colorado | Winter visitor | — |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Florida | Year-round resident | January–May |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | January–May |
| Idaho | Winter visitor | — |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Iowa | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Kansas | Winter visitor | — |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | January–May |
| Maine | Year-round resident | March–May |
| Manitoba | Summer breeder | March–May |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | March–May |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | January–May |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Montana | Winter visitor | — |
| Nebraska | Winter visitor | — |
| Nevada | Winter visitor | — |
| New Brunswick | Year-round resident | March–May |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | March–May |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | February–May |
| New Mexico | Winter visitor | — |
| New York | Year-round resident | February–May |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | February–May |
| North Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Oklahoma | Winter visitor | — |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | March–May |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Quebec | Year-round resident | March–May |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Saskatchewan | Summer breeder | March–May |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | January–May |
| South Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Texas | Winter visitor | — |
| Utah | Winter visitor | — |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | March–May |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Washington | Year-round resident | February–May |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | February–May |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | March–May |
| Wyoming | Winter visitor | — |
Frequently asked
What do hooded mergansers eat?
Small fish, crayfish and aquatic insects. At feeders: none — needs fish-bearing water.
How big is a Hooded Merganser?
15.8–19.3 in long and 16–31 oz.
Do hooded mergansers use birdhouses?
Yes — a 4 × 3 in oval entrance, 10 × 18 in floor, mounted 6–20 ft.
Sources
- Hooded Merganser — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Hooded Merganser life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Hooded Merganser — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.