Bird
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
Lives in Virginia all year and nests here. Found in all 133 counties and cities, across 21 habitats.
- Here
- All year
- Nesting
- Nests here
- Range
- All 133 counties and cities
- Habitats
- 21

At a glance
- Group
- Birds
- Here
- All year
- Nesting
- Nests here
- Range
- All 133 counties and cities
- Habitats
- 21
- Habitat models
- Summer, Winter
Where it lives
The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.
Habitats in Virginia 21
Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.





Streams, rivers and their banks


Disturbed and introduced wetlands
Wet ground taken over by weedy or introduced plants after disturbance, such as common reed, Chinese tallow or tamarisk stands; the upland counterpart is roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.
Marshes along tidal rivers where the water is fresh but rises and falls with the tide.
Flat, poorly drained uplands and terraces with oaks, sweetgum and sometimes loblolly pine, wet in winter and dry in summer, but neither a floodplain nor a swamp.
Wet, open, peaty mountain wetlands fed by seepage, often with sphagnum moss.
Salt and brackish open water of sounds, bays and estuaries, with the mud and sand flats and seagrass beds that tides cover and uncover; the vegetated marsh is salt and brackish marshes.
Glades, barrens and outcrops on limestone






Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.
Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.
Other habitats in its models (115)
Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in Virginia.
- Unconsolidated Shore (Lake/River/Pond) Winter.
- Unconsolidated Shore Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Hardwood Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest-Hardwood Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Juniper Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Herbaceous Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Ozark-Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Ouachita Montane Oak Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Bluff Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Southern Coastal Plain Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Central and South Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Mississippi River Alluvial Plain Dry-Mesic Loess Slope Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Summer.
- Southern Coastal Plain Oak Dome and Hammock Summer.
- Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Summer.
- Edwards Plateau Limestone Savanna and Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Southern Crowley's Ridge Mesic Loess Slope Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Flatwoods Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Ozark-Ouachita Mesic Hardwood Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Mesic Slope Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Hardwood Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Woodland Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Virginia/Pitch Pine Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Loblolly Pine Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest - Offsite Pine Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Pine Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest - Pine modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-Heath Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Southeastern Interior Longleaf Pine Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Acadian Low-Elevation Spruce-Fir-Hardwood Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Northern Crowley's Ridge Sand Forest Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Open Understory Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-Line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East-Central Texas Plains Pine Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Bluestem Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- North-Central Interior Oak Savanna Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Central Interior Highlands Calcareous Glade and Barrens Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Xeric River Dune Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Dune and Maritime Grassland Winter.
- Southwest Florida Dune and Coastal Grassland Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Dune and Coastal Grassland Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Indian River Lagoon Tidal Marsh Winter.
- Mississippi Sound Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
- Florida Big Bend Salt-Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier Summer.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Bay/Gum Modifier Summer.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Pine Modifier Summer.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Nupea Modifier Summer.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Clethra Modifier Summer.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Herbaceous Wetland Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Summer.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp Summer and winter.
- Floridian Highlands Freshwater Marsh Winter.
- Florida Big Bend Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Winter.
- South Florida Bayhead Swamp Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp Summer.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Forested Wetland Summer and winter.
- Lower Mississippi River Bottomland Depressions - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Cypress Dome Summer.
- Central Florida Herbaceous Pondshore Winter.
- Mississippi River Bottomland Depression Summer.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Herbaceous Modifier Summer and winter.
- South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Herbaceous Modifier Summer and winter.
- Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Summer.
- Mississippi River Riparian Forest Summer and winter.
- Cumberland Riverscour Winter.
- Mississippi River Low Floodplain (Bottomland) Forest Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Hydric Hammock Summer.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
- Red River Large Floodplain Forest Summer.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
- Mississippi River Floodplain and Riparian Forest Summer.
- Ozark-Ouachita Riparian Summer.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Plain Dry Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Wet Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Summer.
- Central Florida Pine Flatwoods Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Summer, only within 60 m of water.
- South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods Summer.
- North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Summer.
- Lower Mississippi River Flatwoods Summer, only within 60 m of water.
Seasons in Virginia
- Year-round: nests here, in all 133 counties and cities.
Also found in this habitat
Plants 1233
Plants named in NatureServe descriptions of these habitats that grow in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food.
- Red MapleAcer rubrum
- White OakQuercus alba
- Mountain LaurelKalmia latifolia
- Flowering DogwoodBenthamidia florida
- TuliptreeLiriodendron tulipifera
- Pignut HickoryCarya glabra
- American BeechFagus grandifolia
- SweetgumLiquidambar styraciflua
- SourwoodOxydendrum arboreum
- Virginia CreeperParthenocissus quinquefolia
- Mockernut HickoryCarya tomentosa
- White AshFraxinus americana
- Northern SpicebushLindera benzoin
- BlackgumNyssa sylvatica
- Loblolly PinePinus taeda
- Christmas FernPolystichum acrostichoides
- Rosebay RhododendronRhododendron maximum
- Eastern HemlockTsuga canadensis
- Shagbark HickoryCarya ovata
- American GinsengPanax quinquefolius
- Scarlet OakQuercus coccinea
- Southern Red OakQuercus falcata
- Chestnut OakQuercus montana
- Post OakQuercus stellata
Wildlife 258
Other animals whose habitat models include the same habitats in Virginia. Not sighting records.
- White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera
- WilletTringa semipalmata
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- Yellow-throated WarblerDendroica dominica
- Bachman's SparrowAimophila aestivalis
- Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarola
- Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla
- DovekieAlle alle
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferus
- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolnii
- Nelson's Sharp-tailed SparrowAmmodramus nelsoni
- Purple MartinProgne subis
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Seaside SparrowAmmodramus maritimus
- Thayer's GullLarus thayeri
- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
- Yellow RailCoturnicops noveboracensis
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- BuffleheadBucephala albeola
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- Common MerganserMergus merganser
- Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
- Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoa
NatureServe Explorer, CC BY 4.0. USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models.
Sources
- USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models (2001)
- USGS GAP winter habitat model for Hooded Merganser
- USGS Gap Analysis Project range maps (2001), modeled by watershed; migratory gives no dates
- NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0), habitat names
- US Census TIGER/Line counties
- Names follow the USGS Gap Analysis Project (2001)
















































