Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucllatus

The Hooded Merganser is one of four duck species that regularly breed in Missouri. Like Wood Ducks, they nest in tree cavities near sloughs, ponds and streams.

Code Frequency

Hooded Mergansers are relatively easy to see and identify when with ducklings on open water. Their infrequent detection during the Atlas Project therefore suggests they are indeed a rare nesting species. Females with broods of ducklings accounted for most breeding confirmations. Because of difficulty in locating nest cavities, the four blocks in which Hooded Mergansers were recorded as possible breeders may have actually been nesting localities.

Distribution

Although almost half the blocks in which Hooded Mergansers were recorded were in Pike and Ralls counties, the remaining blocks were scattered widely enough to indicate that these birds may have a statewide distribution. Hooded Mergansers can breed wherever suitable cavity trees or artificial nest boxes are near appropriate brood-rearing wetlands (Duggar et al. 1994). Such nesting localities discovered during the Atlas Project included the Ted Shanks and Fountain Grove conservation areas and the Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge.

Phenology

Considering the early date that fledglings were observed, the breeding season likely began before April 1. Because migration through Missouri continues during early April (Robbins and Easterla 1992), resident breeders can be expected on nesting grounds well before the last migrants have departed.

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 10 (<1%) of 1,207 blocks

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