Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNJB20010
Common Name: 
Hooded Merganser
Scientific Name: 
Lophodytes cucullatus
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Anseriformes
Family: 
Anatidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

2
References: 
B999

Longevity

average age unknown, oldest known was 10.25 years
References: 
CS29

Economic/Human Considerations

important to sport hunters in southern Canada and US
References: 
B999
Habitat
woodland freshwater
References: 
B004
H131
Distribution

Ecozones

Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

<0.03, Rare migrant and summer resident in NWT, no confirmed records of breeding in NWT Very limited distribution in NWT, at extreme northern edge of distribution,
Score: 
D
References: 
GG6
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern Canada to southern US

Number of Occurrences

<30 occurences of HOME in the NWT (eBird.org), sightings around Yellowknife, Fort Resolution, and Hay River and south. But increasing in population and range, and occurrences of pairs in spring in suitable habitat suggests possibility of breeding, but no confirmed breeding records (Ebird.org).
Score: 
BD
References: 
GG6

Historical Distribution

unknown, distribution possibly smaller historically
References: 
GG6

Area of Occupancy

unknown, but possibly increasing in NWT
Score: 
-
References: 
GG6
Population

Population Size

Continental population index ca. 270,000-385,000 (likely underestimated), very small in NWT, unknown in NU
References: 
GG6

Density

very low in north
Trends

Trends

possibly increasing Northward shift in distribution may be due to population growth and subsequent range expansion and/or forestry activities in the south displacing birds (GG6)
Score: 
GH
References: 
GG6
Threats

Threats

potential over-hunting, habitat loss, drought, pressures on population occur mainly outside NT/NU in southern breeding areas and wintering grounds ; threats occur mainly outside NWT: possibly pollution, development, global climate change ,pressures from loss of wetlands and deforestation is a problem in southern breeding areas.
Score: 
C
References: 
H131

Intrinsic Vulnerability

possibly pollution, development, global climate change ,pressures from loss of wetlands and deforestation is a problem in southern breeding areas.
Score: 
-
References: 
H131
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
Very limited distribution in NWT, at extreme northern edge of distribution, but increasing in populaiton and range, population secure elsewhere
S Rank: 
S3S4
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Grant Gilchrist based mostly on printed material in 2000; Reviewed in 2005 by J. Hines and C. Swoboda based on printed literature only, no change in status; Reviewed in 2010;no change ; Reviewed by Ian Fife and Cindy Wood CWS in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
February 16, 2015

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Fournier, M.A. and J.E. Hines (1996) Changed status of the Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus, in the Yellowknife area, Northwest Territories. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110:713-714 CWS library. Yellowknife - GG6 Return

Economic Status

  • Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Fournier, M.A. and J.E. Hines (1996) Changed status of the Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus, in the Yellowknife area, Northwest Territories. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110:713-714 CWS library. Yellowknife - GG6 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Longevity

  • Dugger, B. D., K. M. Dugger, and L. H. Fredrickson (1994) Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) Birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union No. 98 - CS29 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Fournier, M.A. and J.E. Hines (1996) Changed status of the Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus, in the Yellowknife area, Northwest Territories. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110:713-714 CWS library. Yellowknife - GG6 Return

Population Size

Fournier, M.A. and J.E. Hines (1996) Changed status of the Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus, in the Yellowknife area, Northwest Territories. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110:713-714 CWS library. Yellowknife - GG6 Return

Range Extent

  • Fournier, M.A. and J.E. Hines (1996) Changed status of the Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus, in the Yellowknife area, Northwest Territories. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110:713-714 CWS library. Yellowknife - GG6 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Fournier, M.A. and J.E. Hines (1996) Changed status of the Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus, in the Yellowknife area, Northwest Territories. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110:713-714 CWS library. Yellowknife - GG6 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return