34 Birds of Colorado 



and concealed bj^ a log or in a rocky crevice. The eggs 

 are drab with a tinge of olive. 



Genus LOPHODYTES. 



Bill shorter than the head, chiefly black ; bill-serrations low, oblique, 

 not hooked ; tarsus about half as long as the middle toe ; crest very 

 highly developed, erect, compressed, and semicircular. 



One species only. 



Hooded Merganser. Lophodytes cucullatus. 



A.O.U. Checklist no 131 — Colorado Records — Beckham 85, p. 144 ; 

 Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 53, 194; 06 p. 21 ; Henderson 03, 

 p. 234 ; 09, p. 225. 



Description. — Male — Head, neck and upper-parts black, becoming 

 browner on the lower back ; a large compressed, semicircular, erectile 

 crest with the central portion white ; below, from the fore -neck white ; 

 sides finely waved with dusky and cinnamon ; wing with a white 

 speculum and two black bars ; iris yellow, bill black, feet dusky. 

 Length 18; wing 775; tail 4-0; culmen 1-60; tarsus 1-20. 



The female is smaller — wing 7*25 — and has a smaller crest ; it is 

 greyish -brown above, browner on the crown ; the under-parts whitish 

 with the sides dusky brown, not undulated ; wing with less white, the 

 speculum crossed by only one bar. Young birds are like the femalC) 

 but the crest is absent or much smaller. 



Distribution. — Throughout the greater part of North America from 

 British Columbia and Hudson Bay to Mexico and Cuba ; breeding 

 locally throughout most of its range, in the United States and 

 northwards. 



In Colorado the Hooded IMerganser is said to be not uncommon 

 though it has received but little notice. Cooke states that a few 

 birds winter, a few breed in the mountains, and rather more pass 

 through on migration. There is no definite statement of its nesting 

 in the State, though Thorne found it at Fort Lyon on June 20th and 

 July 2nd, and Carter near Canon City on June 1st. The only other 

 definite records are — Barr Lake, not uncommon in winter (Hersey 

 & Rockwell), Pueblo (Beckham) and Boulder co. (Henderson). 



Habits. — This Merganser is seldom, seen on sea-water, 

 and prefers swamps and quiet lakes to running water ; 

 it feeds on roots and weeds as well as on fishes and 

 aquatic insects. 



