Hooded Mergansers in Wyoming
When hooded mergansers are present in Wyoming, when they nest, which native Wyoming plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Wyoming
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect hooded mergansers in Wyoming
In Wyoming, hooded mergansers are winter visitors rather than breeders. Cold, very windy winters.
Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.
Native Wyoming plants that attract hooded mergansers
Of the regional native plants we track for Wyoming, these 8 provide food or cover hooded mergansers use:
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Feeding hooded mergansers through the Wyoming year
- Top foods: None — needs fish-bearing water.
- In Wyoming's winter: Cold, very windy winters.
Full diet breakdown for hooded mergansers · Best feeder for hooded mergansers
Frequently asked
Are hooded mergansers in Wyoming year-round?
No. Hooded Mergansers are winter visitors in Wyoming and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract hooded mergansers in Wyoming?
Bur oak, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Common hackberry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Wyoming that provide food or cover for hooded mergansers.
Hooded Mergansers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Wyoming
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
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Wyoming
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.