Ducks: Red-Breasted Mergansers
Mergus serrator L 22–24 inches.
Slim diving duck. Recalls Common Merganser, but smaller and both
sexes have shaggy, spiky, crest rather than a sleek head. Dives frequently in
search of fish and invertebrates. In flight, both sexes show white on upper
inner wing; extent is greatest in males, the white divided by two black lines.
ADULT MALE Has a narrow reddish bill, a green head (looks dark in poor light),
white neck, and streaked orange-red breast. Flanks are gray and back is black.
Eclipse male is similar to adult female, but retains wing pattern.
ADULT FEMALE
Reddish bill, dirty orange head and
nape, but a paler throat; body plumage is otherwise grayish buff.
JUVENILE Resembles adult female.
VOICE Males utter soft, grunting
display calls. Otherwise silent.
STATUS AND HABITAT Common.
In summer, found on tundra and boreal forest lakes. Outside
breeding season, most birds move to coasts although some may
occur on large, ice-free freshwater lakes.
OBSERVATION TIPS Easiest
to find in winter: search estuaries and large, sheltered bays.
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