North American field guide
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
Identification
Field notes
41-48 cm (16-19") Uncommon. Wooded ponds, lakes, and rivers. Small diving fish-eating duck found only in North America. Nests in tree cavities or nest boxes near wooded ponds, lakes, and rivers; winters near coast mostly on fresh waters.
Male: black head crested with contrasting large white patch running from behind eye to back of head; thin pointed spike-like dark bill; black back; reddish-brown sides; white breast with two black lines before sides.
Female: blackish-brown overall, darker on back; head has bushy reddish-brown crest; thin pointed spike-like bill; upper bill dark, lower bill yellowish.
In flight: rapid wingbeats; gray wing linings; thin bill; folded crest shows as white line on male's head.
Song: froglike croak, toneless "gak".
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Hooded Mergansers
Credit: BirdchickWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Hooded Merganser (Female)
1 ruleRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 3
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Flattened · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like
Hooded Merganser (Male)
1 ruleRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 3
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Flattened · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Red, orange or rusty · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like