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| - | [[category:incomplete]] | + | [[Image:Hooded_Merganser.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Pete+Arnold|Pete Arnold}} <br /> Salt Lake City, [[Utah]]]] |
| - | ;Lophodytes cucullatus | + | ;[[:Category:Lophodytes|Lophodytes]] cucullatus |
| - | [[Image:Hooded_Merganser.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Pete Arnold <br/>Photographed in Salt Lake City, Utah.]] | + | |
| | ==Identification== | | ==Identification== |
| - | The Hooded Merganser is a small, long-bodied diving duck. Both sexes have a "hammerhead" like crest, black and white on the drake while a rust brown on hens. The tail of this duck is rather long and often held upright when swimming. Like other mergansers, this bird has a long narrow bill. Hens are a dark gray color while drakes are mostly black. Look for two black "spurs" on each side of the drake. | + | The Hooded Merganser is a small, long-bodied diving duck. Both sexes have a "hammerhead" like crest, black and white on the drake while a rust brown on hens. The tail of this duck is rather long and often held upright when swimming. Like other mergansers, this bird has a long narrow bill.<br /> |
| - | | + | '''Hens''' are a dark gray color while drakes are mostly black.<br /> |
| | + | Look for two black "spurs" on each side of the drake. |
| | + | [[Image:607-02965fg Female Hooded Merganser.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />[[Viera Wetlands]], [[Florida]], [[USA]], February 2007]] |
| | ==Distribution== | | ==Distribution== |
| - | This duck is a permanent or summer resident in the Northern portions of the United States and Canada. During the winter these ducks migrate across the Southeastern United States. In the Central portion of the United States this bird is found as a migrant with birds wintering on the West coast. | + | This duck is a permanent or summer resident in the Northern portions of the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. During the winter these ducks migrate across the Southeastern United States. In the Central portion of the United States this bird is found as a migrant with birds wintering on the West coast. |
| | + | |
| | + | Most [[Europe|European]] sightings are likely to be escapes from wildfowl collections, though some (particularly in [[Iceland]] and [[Britain]] could be genuine vagrants. |
| | | | |
| | ==Taxonomy== | | ==Taxonomy== |
| | + | This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>. |
| | + | |
| | + | A recent paper proposes that this species should be included in the genus ''[[:Category:Mergus|Mergus]]''<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup> |
| | ==Habitat== | | ==Habitat== |
| - | These ducks are uncommon in small flocks on sheltered ponds and bays, especially wooded ponds and swamps with standing dead trees. During the breeding season females build a nest in a dead snag much like a Wood Duck ''Aix sponsa'' whom they have been known to share nests with. | + | These ducks are uncommon in small flocks on sheltered ponds and bays, especially wooded ponds and swamps with standing dead trees. During the breeding season females build a nest in a dead snag much like the [[Wood Duck]] ''Aix sponsa'' whom they have been known to share nests with. |
| - | | + | [[Image:HoodedMergansers23Nov07.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|CurtMorgan|CurtMorgan}}<br />[[Parker River National Wildlife Refuge]], Newburyport, [[Massachusetts]], [[USA]], November 2007]] |
| | ==Behaviour== | | ==Behaviour== |
| - | These ducks forage by diving in shallow water where they consume small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans (especially crayfish). Females lay a clutch of 5-44 white eggs inside a tree cavity or nest box, this nest is lined with the downy feathers from the hen's chest. The chicks hatch with open eyes and are covered in down. Within one day of hatching the chicks leave the nest never to return. Female Hooded Mergansers are know to dump their eggs in another Merganser's nest resulting in lare clutch sizes; they have even been reported to dump their eggs in the nest of a Wood Duck. | + | ====Diet==== |
| - | | + | These ducks forage by diving in shallow water where they consume small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans (especially crayfish). |
| | + | ====Breeding==== |
| | + | Females lay a clutch of 5-44 white eggs inside a tree cavity or nest box, this nest is lined with the downy feathers from the hen's chest. The chicks hatch with open eyes and are covered in down. Within one day of hatching the chicks leave the nest never to return. Female Hooded Mergansers are known to dump their eggs in another Merganser's nest resulting in large clutch sizes; they have even been reported to dump their eggs in the nest of a [[Wood Duck]]. |
| | + | ==Reference== |
| | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}}#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 |
| | + | #[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2344708 Birdforum thread] discussing the taxonomy of some mergansers |
| | + | {{ref}} |
| | ==External Links== | | ==External Links== |
| - | *[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?si=Lophodytes+cucullatus&x=7&y=12&perpage=12&sort=1&cat=all&ppuser=&friendemail=email%40yourfriend.com&password= View more images of Hooded Merganser in the gallery] | + | {{GSearch|Lophodytes+cucullatus}} |
| - | [[Category:Birds]] | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Lophodytes]] |
Revision as of 23:20, 26 February 2012
- Lophodytes cucullatus
Identification
The Hooded Merganser is a small, long-bodied diving duck. Both sexes have a "hammerhead" like crest, black and white on the drake while a rust brown on hens. The tail of this duck is rather long and often held upright when swimming. Like other mergansers, this bird has a long narrow bill.
Hens are a dark gray color while drakes are mostly black.
Look for two black "spurs" on each side of the drake.
Distribution
This duck is a permanent or summer resident in the Northern portions of the United States and Canada. During the winter these ducks migrate across the Southeastern United States. In the Central portion of the United States this bird is found as a migrant with birds wintering on the West coast.
Most European sightings are likely to be escapes from wildfowl collections, though some (particularly in Iceland and Britain could be genuine vagrants.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
A recent paper proposes that this species should be included in the genus Mergus[3]
Habitat
These ducks are uncommon in small flocks on sheltered ponds and bays, especially wooded ponds and swamps with standing dead trees. During the breeding season females build a nest in a dead snag much like the Wood Duck Aix sponsa whom they have been known to share nests with.
Behaviour
Diet
These ducks forage by diving in shallow water where they consume small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans (especially crayfish).
Breeding
Females lay a clutch of 5-44 white eggs inside a tree cavity or nest box, this nest is lined with the downy feathers from the hen's chest. The chicks hatch with open eyes and are covered in down. Within one day of hatching the chicks leave the nest never to return. Female Hooded Mergansers are known to dump their eggs in another Merganser's nest resulting in large clutch sizes; they have even been reported to dump their eggs in the nest of a Wood Duck.
Reference
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of some mergansers
External Links
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