|
- Connect with the birding community
- Post your sightings for all to see
- Find interesting birds in your area
- It's fun, easy and free!
Common Merganserby brucemcd on November 16, 2008
Common Merganserby pgish on November 12, 2008
Common Merganserby Tony on June 1, 2008
Common Merganserby Tony on June 1, 2008
Common Merganserby Tony on June 1, 2008
Common Merganser
The Common Merganser, (Goosander in Europe), Mergus merganser, is a large sea duck, which is distributed over Europe, North Asia and North America. Although belonging to the seaducks, It is most common on lakes and rivers. Its nests can be found in treeholes.
There are three subspecies
* M. m. merganser, the Goosander of Europe
* M. m. orientalis, Central Asian Common Merganser
* M. m. americanus, American Common Merganser
Males and females are easily distinguished, since the male merganser has a dark green head, while the head of the female is reddish-brown. The Common Merganser is 70 cm long with a 78-94 cm wingspan.
These large fish-eaters have serrated edges to their bills to help them grip their prey. Along with the Smew and the Hooded Merganser, they are therefore often known as "sawbills". They also eat mussels and shrimps; young birds mainly eat aquatic insects.
North American birds migrate south in small groups to the southern United States; on the west coast, some birds are permanent residents.
Scandinavian and Russian birds also migrate southwards, but western European birds are largely resident.