# Hooded Merganser

*Lophodytes cucullatus*

They possess a specialized nictitating membrane that acts like underwater goggles, allowing for crystal-clear vision while hunting submerged.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Lophodytes
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** increasing
- **Biome:** wetland
- **Habitat:** Forested wetlands, swamps, and quiet ponds with ample woody debris.
- **Diet:** Small fish, crayfish, and aquatic insects.
- **Range:** North America, Southern Canada, United States
- **Size:** 40-49 cm length; 600-700g weight
- **Lifespan:** 11-12 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Loss of forested wetland habitat and removal of dead standing trees used for nesting.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless and shy. Best observed with binoculars from a distance to avoid causing stress. If you find a nesting cavity in a tree, keep back to ensure the parents return to their eggs.

## About

The hooded merganser ( Lophodytes cucullatus ) is a species of small duck. It is the only extant species in the genus Lophodytes . The genus name derives from the Greek language: lophos meaning 'crest', and dutes meaning diver. The bird is striking in appearance; both sexes have crests that they can raise or lower, and the breeding plumage of the male is handsomely patterned and coloured. The hooded merganser has a sawbill but is not classified as a

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/2ad171d4-118e-4397-adbb-6bfa54f3c75b
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7109
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lophodytes cucullatus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/365544882/medium.jpg (Chris O'Donoghue, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.