Bucephala clangula x Lophodytes cucullatus
Status: Rare casual spring and fall migrant and winter visitor.
Winter: The observer of the 1997 and 1999 Cunningham Lake birds suggested they were the same individual. Given the paucity of Great Plains records of this hybrid, several records cited below, especially those at Lake Ogallala, may be of the same individual.
16 Nov 2014 Holmes Lake, Lancaster Co (Leger, eBird.org)
15 Dec 2024 Gavin’s Point Dam, Cedar Co (Dinsdale, Ed Brogie, Strand, eBird.org)
19 Jan 2004, Lake Ogallala, Keith Co (Iliff, eBird.org)
28 Jan 1995, Lake Ogallala, Keith Co (Silcock 1995)
23 Jan- 6 Feb 1999, winter of 2000-2001 Lake Ogallala (Brown and Brown 2001)
10 Feb 2015 Branched Oak Lake, Lancaster Co (Silcock 2015)
13 Feb 2010 Scotts Bluff Co (Silcock 2010)
28 Feb 1999 Cunningham Lake, Douglas Co (Silcock 1998)
6 Mar 2021 Gavin’s Point Dam area, Cedar Co (Strand, E. Brogie; eBird.org)
8 Mar 2014, Branched Oak Lake, Lancaster Co (Silcock 2014)
15-19 Mar 1997, Cunningham Lake, Douglas Co (Jorgensen 1997)
Comments: Although there are numerous reports across North America, the Nebraska records are among fewer than ten on the Great Plains (eBird.org, accessed Nov 2022).
Images
Literature Cited
Jorgensen J.G. 1997. Two hybrid diving ducks at Cunningham Lake, Douglas County. NBR 65: 135-136.
Silcock, W.R. 1995. Winter Field Report, December 1994-February 1995. NBR 63: 14-23.
Silcock, W.R. 1998. Winter Field Report, December 1997-February 1998. NBR 67: 2-16.
Silcock, W.R. 2010. Winter Field Report, December 2009-February 2020. NBR 78: 3-16.
Silcock, W.R. 2014. Spring Field Report, March-May 2014. NBR 82; 46-73.
Silcock, W.R. 2015. Winter Field Report, December 2014-February 2015. NBR 83: 3-21.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2025. Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser (hybrid) (Bucephala clangula x Lophodytes cucullatus). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Updated 22 Mar 2025