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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
hooded
merganser |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Anseriformes |
| FAMILY: |
Anatidae |
| SUBFAMILY: |
Mergini |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Mergus
(diving bird) cucullatus (a hood) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Both
males and females of this species have large erectile
crests resembling a hood and long tails for great
maneuverability in flight. |
| MALE |
Males
have eclipse plumage, which turns black, brown,
and white during breeding season, and the male eye
markings are yellow. |
| FEMALE |
Females
have brown eyes and are brownish in color. |
|
| SIZE: |
Approximately
42-50 cm (16.8-20 in.) in length; wingspan 56-70
cm (22.4-28 in.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
|
| MALE |
Approximately
680 g (23.8 oz) |
| FEMALE |
Approximately
540 g (18.9 oz) |
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| DIET: |
Feeds
primarily on fish; diet also includes frogs, tadpoles,
crustaceans, and small mollusks |
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| INCUBATION: |
32 days; breeding takes place March through May |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
9-11
eggs |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
71
days |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
2 years |
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| RANGE: |
Throughout
North America, except the far northern latitudes
and only into the northern part of Baja California,
Mexico |
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| HABITAT: |
Found
in freshwater sloughs, streams, ponds, and swamps |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
Males
are called drakes, females are hens, and young
are ducklings.
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| 2. |
Mergansers
can fly at speeds approaching 50 mph. |
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| 3. |
Mergansers
are also able to catch fish by direct underwater
pursuit, remaining submerged for up to 2 minutes!
They resurface to swallow their prey, turning it
around so it is swallowed headfirst. This method
avoids injury from the spiny fins of some types
of fish. |
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| 4. |
Some
refer to hooded mergansers as frog ducks because
of the long guttural call that can be heard a half
mile away. |
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| 5. |
Ducklings
in the water may gather together in a tight compact
group resembling a swimming muskrat. This instinctive
behavior may deceive aerial predators like sharp-shinned
hawks. |
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| 6. |
Hens
frequently select nesting cavities as high as 75
feet above ground. |
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Hooded
mergansers help maintain fish and amphibian populations.
Though
not listed as endangered, the future for this
species may not be optimistic. Forest destruction
and stream water pollution has reduced their breeding
grounds. In some areas, fish farmers and anglers
hunt hooded mergansers because they feel the ducks
destroy the fish populations in those areas.
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|
|
| Austin,
G. Birds of the World. New York. Golden Press,
Inc., 1961. |
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Gotch,
A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981.
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| Johnsgard,
P. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World.
Lincoln. Univ. Of Neb. Press, 1978. |
|
| Palmer,
R.S. (ed.). Handbook of North American Birds.
Vol. 4. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988. |
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| Scott,
P. A Coloured Key of the Wildfowl of the World.
Slimbridge, England. The Wildfowl Trust. 1988. |
|
| Todd,
F.S. Natural History of Waterfowl. San Diego,
Ca. Ibis Publishing Co., 1996. |
|
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/lophodytes/l._
cucullatus$narrative.htm |
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