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That Nest in BirdhousesHooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Lophodytes
Species: cucullatus
La. anser goose
La. forma form, shape, kind
Gr. anous foolish
La. anas duck
La. –idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. lophos crest
Gr. dytēs dive in, sink, diver
iGr. cucullus hood
La. cuculatus hooded
About 19 inches long. Black upper parts with a white fan shaped patch centered on a flat disk-like crest. Brownish tinge on the wings and tail. White underside with chestnut flanks.
Hooded mergansers inhabit woodlands bordering rivers and ponds throughout most of eastern U.S., and Canada in the Hudson Bay region and as far west as British Columbia. They nest from about 45 degrees latitude north to the Arctic Circle. They migrate becoming common throughout the lower Mississippi River Valley in winter and some migrate as far as Mexico and the Caribbean.
They dive for small fish, crayfish, amphibians, snails, insects, roots and seeds in ponds, rivers, lakes and coastal waters often rich with aquatic vegetation and fallen timber.
Hooded mergansers build nests of grass, leaves and down in cavities high in trees or low in stumps or among foliage adjacent to or in water.
Females lay five to eighteen ivory white eggs which hatch after about one month of incubation.
The day after the ducklings hatch, the female parent coaxes them out of the nest to water where they immediately begin learning to swim, dive and forage for insects. They fly at about two months age.
Hooded Merganser Nest Box
The hooded merganser nest box (same as for wood duck and kestrel) has a 10″ by 10″ floor, 24″ inside floor to ceiling, 4″ wide by 3″ high entrance hole located 21″ above the floor and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof. Make a Side Door.
Please do not attract duck families and leave them vulnerable to predators. Significant reduction in predation has been achieved through proper location, installation and protection from predators.
Duck nest box management best practices have so drastically reduced duckling mortality that it's probably unwise to do it any other way. It's even easier. Metal posts, cone guards, near the water, above ground, within reach, side opening doors. No ladders or boats. Easier, safer, best success rates.
Visit the Wood Duck Society. Follow their tested and proven best practices.
Hooded Merganser Nest Box
View/Print Plans
Hooded Merganser
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home
Lophodytes cucullatus
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Lophodytes
Species: cucullatus
La. anser goose
La. forma form, shape, kind
Gr. anous foolish
La. anas duck
La. –idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. lophos crest
Gr. dytēs dive in, sink, diver
iGr. cucullus hood
La. cuculatus hooded
About 19 inches long. Black upper parts with a white fan shaped patch centered on a flat disk-like crest. Brownish tinge on the wings and tail. White underside with chestnut flanks.
Hooded mergansers inhabit woodlands bordering rivers and ponds throughout most of eastern U.S., and Canada in the Hudson Bay region and as far west as British Columbia. They nest from about 45 degrees latitude north to the Arctic Circle. They migrate becoming common throughout the lower Mississippi River Valley in winter and some migrate as far as Mexico and the Caribbean.
They dive for small fish, crayfish, amphibians, snails, insects, roots and seeds in ponds, rivers, lakes and coastal waters often rich with aquatic vegetation and fallen timber.
Hooded mergansers build nests of grass, leaves and down in cavities high in trees or low in stumps or among foliage adjacent to or in water.
Females lay five to eighteen ivory white eggs which hatch after about one month of incubation.
The day after the ducklings hatch, the female parent coaxes them out of the nest to water where they immediately begin learning to swim, dive and forage for insects. They fly at about two months age.
Hooded Merganser Nest Box
The hooded merganser nest box (same as for wood duck and kestrel) has a 10″ by 10″ floor, 24″ inside floor to ceiling, 4″ wide by 3″ high entrance hole located 21″ above the floor and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof.
Make a Side Opening Door for easy access.
Hooded Merganser
Nest Box Plans
Duck nest box management best practices have so drastically reduced duckling mortality that it's probably unwise to do it any other way. It's even easier. Metal posts, cone guards, near the water, above ground, within reach, side opening doors. No ladders or boats. Easier, safer, best success rates.
Visit the Wood Duck Society. Follow their tested and proven best practices.
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Forum
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Lophodytes
Species: cucullatus
La. anser goose
La. forma form, shape, kind
Gr. anous foolish
La. anas duck
La. –idae appearance, resemblance
Gr. lophos crest
Gr. dytēs dive in, sink, diver
iGr. cucullus hood
La. cuculatus hooded
About 19 inches long. Black upper parts with a white fan shaped patch centered on a flat disk-like crest. Brownish tinge on the wings and tail. White underside with chestnut flanks.
Hooded mergansers inhabit woodlands bordering rivers and ponds throughout most of eastern U.S., and Canada in the Hudson Bay region and as far west as British Columbia. They nest from about 45 degrees latitude north to the Arctic Circle. They migrate becoming common throughout the lower Mississippi River Valley in winter and some migrate as far as Mexico and the Caribbean.
They dive for small fish, crayfish, snails, insects, roots and seeds in ponds, rivers, lakes and coastal waters often rich with aquatic vegetation and fallen timber.
Hooded mergansers build nests of grass, leaves and down in cavities high in trees or low in stumps or among foliage adjacent to or in water.
Females lay five to eighteen ivory white eggs which hatch after about one month of incubation.
The day after the ducklings hatch, the female parent coaxes them out of the nest to water where they immediately begin learning to swim, dive and forage for insects. They fly at about two months age.
Hooded Merganser Nest Box
The hooded merganser nest box (same as for wood duck and kestrel) has a 10″ by 10″ floor, 24″ inside floor to ceiling, 4″ wide by 3″ high entrance hole located 21″ above the floor and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof. Make a Side Door.
Please do not attract duck families and leave them vulnerable to predators. Significant reduction in predation has been achieved through proper location, installation and protection from predators.
Duck nest box management best practices have so drastically reduced duckling mortality that it's probably unwise to do it any other way. It's even easier. Metal posts, cone guards, near the water, above ground, within reach, side opening doors. No ladders or boats. Easier, safer, best success rates.
Visit the Wood Duck Society. Follow their tested and proven best practices.
Hooded Merganser Nest Box
View/Print Plans