Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus
A small duck (40 - 49 cm) with a long, narrow, serrated bill. It has a brownish-black back and wings, with a white underside. The male has a black head with a white, fan-shaped crest, which is bordered in black. The male’s iris is bright yellow, while the iris of females and immature males is duller brown.
Due to the rarity of this species in our area, a photo is required showing the identifying characters (unless identified or confirmed by a recognised expert).
Open water bodies and wet areas.
Most likely to be encountered as an escape from captivity.
Infrequently recorded in Britain but with a widespread scattering of records.
Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland, most likely to be encountered on large water bodies such as Rutland Water.
steven lewis
Rutland water
27 October 2019
Drake
steven lewis
Rutland water
27 October 2019
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Hooded Merganser
- Species group:
- bird
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Anseriformes
- Family:
- Anatidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 2
- First record:
- 27/10/2019 (Lewis, Steven)
- Last record:
- 27/10/2019 (Lewis, Steven)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.