Hooded Merganser in September
Where hooded mergansers are in September, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
September in the Hooded Merganser's year
September is the peak of fall migration. Huge numbers of birds move south on cold fronts, mixed flocks form, and summer residents slip away almost unnoticed. Young birds making their first migration appear in places the species rarely visits.
For the Hooded Merganser specifically, September is a fall 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 September
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In September, 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 September
Hooded mergansers are not nesting in September. The season runs February–May at mid-latitudes.
That makes September 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 September
- Minnows, crayfish and aquatic insects
Nests in tree cavities and wood-duck-style boxes near quiet wooded ponds and slow rivers.
Migrants passing through may stop at feeders for a day and never return — September rewards watching closely. Natural seed and fruit crops are abundant, so feeder traffic can be uneven.
Full Hooded Merganser diet guide → · Best feeder for hooded mergansers →
Watching hooded mergansers this month
Hooded mergansers are settled and predictable in September, 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 September?
In September, hooded mergansers are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do hooded mergansers nest in September?
No — hooded mergansers typically nest February through May at mid-latitudes.
What do hooded mergansers eat in September?
Minnows, crayfish and aquatic insects.
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.