Hooded merganser

Species it is confused with

Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.

• Common merganser · Mergus merganser
• Bufflehead · Bucephala albeola

Field notes

• Identification Do not identify Hooded merganser from colour alone. Compare structure, size, range and the listed similar species before making a field decision.[1][2]

Where legal take is listed

• Alberta — migratory bird hunting · 2026 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations
• British Columbia — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2028 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis
• Canada (federal migratory birds) — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 (SOR/2022-105), Schedule Parts 7-13 (MB, SK, AB, BC, NT, YT, NU)
• New Brunswick — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, Schedule 3, Part 4 (New Brunswick) (current to 2026-09-21)
• Newfoundland and Labrador — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, Schedule 3, Part 1 (Newfoundland and Labrador) (current to 2026-09-21)
• Nova Scotia — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, Schedule 3, Part 3 (Nova Scotia) (current to 2026-09-21)
• Ontario — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, Schedule 3, Part 6 (Ontario) (current to 2026-09-21)
• Prince Edward Island — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, Schedule 3, Part 2 (Prince Edward Island) (current to 2026-09-21)
• Québec — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, Schedule 3, Part 5 (Quebec) (current to 2026-09-21)
• Saskatchewan — migratory bird hunting · Saskatchewan Hunters Guide 2026-27
• Alabama — migratory bird hunting · Waterfowl Seasons 2026-2027 (ADCNR)
• Alaska — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Alaska Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations
• Arkansas — migratory bird hunting · Waterfowl Season Dates, Rules & Regulations (2026-27)
• Colorado — migratory bird hunting · 2 CCR 406-5 Chapter W-5 Migratory Birds (03/04/2026; eff. 2026-05-01)
• Connecticut — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 CT Migratory Bird Hunting Guide
• Delaware — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide: Migratory Bird Seasons & Bag Limits
• Georgia — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Season Dates - Migratory Birds (WRD 1-page synopsis, linked from georgiawildlife.com/migratory-bird-info)
• Idaho — migratory bird hunting · Idaho Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 Seasons & Rules
• Illinois — migratory bird hunting · Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-2027 (PDF read from cached copy of the digest linked on this page)
• Indiana — migratory bird hunting · Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide 2026-2027: Waterfowl & Migratory Bird Regulations
• Iowa — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Iowa Hunting, Trapping & Migratory Game Bird Regulations (DNR PDF; page numbers cited)
• Kansas — migratory bird hunting · Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, Fall 2025-Spring 2026
• Kentucky — migratory bird hunting · Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, August 2026-March 2027
• Louisiana — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting Regulations (updated Aug 7, 2026)
• Maine — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Maine Migratory Game Bird Quick Reference Guide
• Maryland — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping (official guide, linked from dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide)
• Minnesota — migratory bird hunting · Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations (effective July 2026 - June 30, 2027)
• Mississippi — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Gamebird Digest 2026-27 (MDWFP)
• Missouri — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2026-2027 (cached PDF from MDC regulations page)
• Montana — migratory bird hunting · 2026 Waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, Mourning Doves & Snipe Regulations
• Nebraska — migratory bird hunting · Small Game & Waterfowl Guide 2025-2026
• New Mexico — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 New Mexico Migratory Game Bird Supplement
• North Carolina — migratory bird hunting · Proclamation: 2026-2027 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons (NCWRC)
• North Dakota — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Small Game, Waterfowl and Furbearer Proclamation
• Ohio — migratory bird hunting · Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27 (effective 1 Sep 2026-31 Aug 2027); PDF read from cached copy
• Oklahoma — migratory bird hunting · Ducks, Mergansers & Coots
• Pennsylvania — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits
• Rhode Island — migratory bird hunting · Hunting and Trapping Regulations (250-RICR-60-00-9)
• South Carolina — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide
• South Dakota — migratory bird hunting · 2026 South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook
• Tennessee — migratory bird hunting · Summary of Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Seasons Dates | TWRA
• Utah — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Waterfowl, Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook
• Vermont — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Vermont Migratory Bird Hunting Syllabus
• Virginia — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Game Bird Regulations | Virginia DWR
• Washington — migratory bird hunting · 2026 Washington Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations (Jul 1 2026 - Jun 30 2027)
• West Virginia — migratory bird hunting · West Virginia Migratory Game Bird Regulations Sept 2026-Jan 2027
• Wisconsin — migratory bird hunting · 2026 Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Seasons PUB-CS-076-2026 (updated 06/08/2026)

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.