Hooded Merganser
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| Fact Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophodytes cucullatus |
| Wing spread | 26 inches |
| Body length | 18 inches |
| Weight | 1.6 pounds |
| Description | Males have a black head with a white spot on crest, black back, brown sides, white chest and belly, and gray patch on shoulder. Females are brownish gray on head, chest and sides, and have a dark back. Both sexes have white bars on the wing speculum. |
| Nesting Habitat | Typically nests in tree cavities. |
| Clutch size | 11 eggs |
| Incubation period | 32 days |
| Status in North Dakota | Uncommon during migration, but a fairly common nester in wooded habitat. Eastern North Dakota is considered secondary breeding range. |
| Food habits | Aquatic insects, small panfish and minnows, crayfish and frogs. |
| Fun Facts | In an effort to attract a mate, the male hooded merganser may swim rapidly around the female, then leap into the air and perform a somersault before splashing back into the water. The hooded merganser competes with wood ducks for nesting cavities in North Dakota. |