Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
- Class
- Bird
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 59,122
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The hooded merganser is a species of fish-eating duck in the subfamily Anatinae. 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 typical merganser.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Hooded merganser”.