Hooded Merganser in December
Where hooded mergansers are in December, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
December in the Hooded Merganser's year
December is the start of the true winter season. Birds are settled into winter ranges and flocking behavior peaks — mixed flocks move through woods and yards together, and feeding stations become social hubs. Short days mean birds must find most of their food in a few hours of daylight.
For the Hooded Merganser specifically, December is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 54 states and provinces where hooded mergansers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where hooded mergansers are in December
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In December, hooded mergansers are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in December
Hooded mergansers are not nesting in December. The season runs February–May at mid-latitudes.
That makes December a useful month for nest-box work: cleaning out old nesting material, checking mounts and predator guards, and making repairs while boxes are empty. A box that's ready early gets claimed early.
What to feed in December
- Small fish in ice-free water
Nests in tree cavities and wood-duck-style boxes near quiet wooded ponds and slow rivers.
Feeders are busiest at dawn and dusk as birds fuel up against long cold nights. Suet and other high-fat foods earn their keep this month.
Full Hooded Merganser diet guide → · Best feeder for hooded mergansers →
Watching hooded mergansers this month
Hooded mergansers are settled and predictable in December, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
If you have a Hooded Merganser box up, this is the month to make sure it's clean, secure and ready — the box guide below has the exact hole size and mounting height this species needs.
Hooded Merganser month by month
Hooded Merganser by state
Frequently asked
Where are hooded mergansers in December?
In December, hooded mergansers are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do hooded mergansers nest in December?
No — hooded mergansers typically nest February through May at mid-latitudes.
What do hooded mergansers eat in December?
Small fish in ice-free water.
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.