Hooded Merganser

Our Smallest Merganser

Hooded Mergansers

 The male and three female Hooded Mergansers pictured above were resting on a pipe at a sewage lagoon.  There were late summer post-nesting individuals who would remain in the province until late fall when they would migrate southward.

The Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is one of our most beautiful waterfowl species.  Its beauty is very evident in the male and more subtle in the female.  The male shows an artistic mix of black, white and chestnut, the black being on the head and back and the chestnut on the sides.  It is noted by its brilliant white crest outlined in black which it often flashes in breeding season.  This is offset by its deep yellow iris.  The female is a mix of browns, oranges and grays.  She is mainly brownish gray overall with an orangish-brown crest which is beautiful when it reflects the sunshine.  Both have a fast, shallow wingbeat.  They are not very vocal but do make growling, croaking and purring sounds during courtship.  The Hooded Merganser is about 46 cm (18 in) long compared to the  Common Merganser which is 64 cm (25 in) and the Red-breasted Merganser, 58 cm (23 in).  The Common Merganser is also a fresh water species but cannot be mistaken for the Hooded Merganser because of its size and much whiter appearance.

Hooded Merganser Male [Internet Photo]

The male Hooded Merganser shown above has his crest extended.  The female shown below is much more subdued in colour.

Hooded Merganser Female

The Hooded Merganser is a summer resident here.  It prefers wooded ponds, streams, swamps and tidal creeks where it nests in tree cavities.  It is a permanent resident in southwestern Nova Scotia and parts of the US south of the Great Lakes.  It winters in the south central and eastern US.  There is also a smaller population in the west which summers in British Columbia and winters on the western US coast.  We have seen part of the wintering population of 'Hoodies' in the southeastern US where they were sleeping and resting on small wooded ponds in South Carolina.  The photo below shows one of those groups where there were about 25 individuals quietly resting.

Hooded Mergansers

The Hooded Merganser is an extremely agile diver and swimmer where it catches underwater prey.  These birds are built for the aquatic environment!  Their legs are set far back on their bodies so they are not so good on land.  They will readily use manmade nest boxes.  Why don't you put one up this year and maybe you will enjoy watching these beauties at work.

Hooded Merganser Female [Internet Photo]

Our first Hooded Mergansers were seen this year on February 27.  This is a very early date and may reflect an over-wintering pair.  That is unlikely due to our weather and lack of open water.  We have since seen 3 males together so their migration is certainly taking place already.  Scan open water in our area with your binoculars and you might be lucky enough to see a Hooded Merganser.