🦆 Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
The Common Merganser, also known as the Goosander in Europe, is a large, elegant duck with a long, slender bill adapted for catching fish. It is a striking species, especially the adult male, and is often seen on freshwater lakes and rivers with clear, fast-moving water.
🔍 Identification
- Size:
- Length: 58–72 cm (23–28 in)
- Wingspan: 78–97 cm (31–38 in)
- Weight: 1.2–2.1 kg (2.6–4.6 lbs)
- Adult Male:
- Shiny green-black head
- Bright white body with a faint pink tinge
- Black back and thin red bill with a hook at the tip
- Adult Female:
- Gray body
- Rusty-red head with a shaggy crest
- White chin and narrow red bill
- Both Sexes:
- Long, thin, serrated bills (used for gripping slippery fish)
- Strong swimmers and divers
🌍 Distribution & Habitat
- Range:
- Widespread across North America, Europe, and Asia
- Habitat:
- Prefers freshwater rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, often with wooded surroundings
- Also found on coastal waters in winter
🐟 Diet & Feeding Behavior
- Diet:
- Primarily fish, but also eats aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, and small mammals
- Feeding style:
- An excellent diver, chasing prey underwater using its streamlined body and powerful webbed feet
- Its serrated bill is specially adapted to grasp and hold slippery fish
🧬 Breeding & Nesting
- Breeding season: Late spring to early summer
- Nesting:
- Uses tree cavities, nest boxes, or occasionally ground crevices
- Female lays 6–17 creamy white eggs
- Ducklings:
- Jump from the nest shortly after hatching
- Capable of swimming and foraging within a day
- Often seen following the mother in single file on the water
🌟 Interesting Facts
- The Common Merganser’s name “sawbill” comes from its distinctive toothed bill
- Often nests far from water, and ducklings must walk or jump long distances to reach it
- In winter, large flocks may gather on ice-free rivers and coastal bays
✅ Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
- Populations are stable or increasing in many areas due to cleaner rivers and protected habitats
📌 Summary
The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a striking, fish-eating duck that thrives in clean, freshwater environments. With its streamlined body and specialized bill, it is perfectly adapted for life as an underwater predator. Whether gliding across a calm lake or diving for prey, it’s a graceful and fascinating bird to observe.
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