Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Least Concern
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Taxonomy
French: Harle couronné German: Kappensäger Spanish: Serreta capuchona
Taxonomy:
Mergus cucullatus
Linnaeus
, 1758,America = Virginia and Carolina ex Catesby
.Distribution:
Breeds in the Pacific Northwest from British Columbia S in USA to Oregon and C Montana, possibly farther S; in E from SC to SE Canada S to Mississippi Valley and N Florida. Winters mainly on Pacific coast from SE Alaska to S California, and in E USA, but occurs throughout S USA and N Mexico.
Descriptive notes
42–50 cm; 453–910 g; wingspan 56–70 cm. Unmistakable. Generally smaller than other mergansers (especially female), but proportionately larger-headed, and... read more
Voice
Male is generally silent, except in display, when produces guttural “grrrooooooo” that recalls... read more
Habitat
Breeds on small lakes (including beaver Castor canadensis ponds), pools and fast-flowing... read more
Food and feeding
Diet fairly diverse; mostly fish (minnows and other smaller species but also young trout Oncorhynchus mykiss) and aquatic... read more
Breeding
Starts Mar/Apr, e.g. egg-laying from 25 Mar until 19 May in C Wisconsin, but 21 Apr to 5 Jun in Quebec, where eggs hatched 31 May–13... read more
Movements
Migratory, although there is distinct overlap between breeding and wintering areas; winters along... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Total world breeding population calculated at c. 76,000 individuals in mid 1970s, with no apparent signs of any major changes and... read more
Often placed in genus Mergus. Phylogenetic analysis, however, found that this species is sister to the Mergus group of species#R. Hybridization with Mergus species reported rarely in captivity. Monotypic.