Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nova Scotia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northwest Territories Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nunavut Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ontario Ducks, Geese & Swans of Prince Edward Island

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The Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 614 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Lophodytes
Species cucullatus

Where it lives

Southeastern Alaska to northwestern USA; southern Manitoba to Nova Scotia (central, southeastern Canada) to eastern Texas and northern Florida (eastern, southeastern USA)

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 614 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Hooded Merganser hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Hooded Merganser is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA se Alaska to nw USA; s Manitoba to Nova Scotia (c, se Canada) to e Texas and n Florida (e, se USA).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 614 g, with a wing length of about 18.7 cm and a tail of around 8.6 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.5 million km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Hooded Merganser?

The Hooded Merganser is a large bird that weighs around 614 g.

Where does the Hooded Merganser live?

The Hooded Merganser is found across North America with a range covering NA se Alaska to nw USA; s Manitoba to Nova Scotia (c, se Canada) to e Texas and n Florida (e, se USA), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Hooded Merganser belong to?

The Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Hooded Merganser eat?

The Hooded Merganser hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Hooded Merganser migrate?

The Hooded Merganser is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Hooded Merganser endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

How large is the Hooded Merganser's range?

The Hooded Merganser has a mapped global range of about 5.5 million km².