Red-breasted Merganser


	Red-breasted Merganser
	Mergus serrator

A large diving duck with a long thin bill, the Red-breasted Merganser is found in large lakes, rivers and the ocean. It prefers salt water more than the other two species of merganser.

Interesting Information

The Red-breasted Merganser breeds farther north and winters farther south than the other American mergansers.
The Red-breasted Merganser was first described in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist.
It prefers salt water more than the other two species of merganser.
A group of ducks has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "flush", "paddling", "raft", and "team" of ducks.

Description

Adult Description

Large, thin diving duck.
Long, thin, orange to red-orange bill.
Shaggy crest on back of head.
White patches in wing visible in flight.
Male with gray sides, dark reddish chest, white neck, and iridescent green head.
Length Range: 41-66 cm (16-26 in)
Weight: 1134 g (40 oz)
Size: Large (16 - 32 in)
Color Primary: Gray, Sheen or Iridescence
Underparts: White
Upperparts: Black
Back Pattern: Solid
Belly Pattern: Solid
Breast Pattern: Striped or streaked

Sex Differences

Male Description

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage

Head iridescent greenish black. Neck white. Chest deep rusty speckled with black. Back dark with long white patch along wings. Tail gray. Outer part of wings black. Bill scarlet-orange. Eyes red.

Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage

Head rusty brown with long, ragged double crest. Chin pale or gray. Breast, back, wings and tail slaty gray. Belly and flanks white. Bill scarlet-orange. White patch in wing visible in flight. Like female, except has less white on chin, darker back, and wing with larger white patch.

Female Description

Head rusty brown with long, ragged, double crest. Chin dark or pale, gradually merging with chest color. Breast, back, wings and tail slaty gray. Belly and flanks white. Bill scarlet-orange. White patch in wing visible in flight.

Immature

Immature resembles adult female.

Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide by David Allen Sibley

Habitat

Wooded lakes and tundra ponds; found mainly on saltwater during winter.

Behavior

Dives underwater to catch prey.

Food

Mostly fish; also crustaceans, insects, and tadpoles.

Taxonomy

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Subfamily:	Anatinae
Genus:	Mergus
Species:	Mergus serrator

Similar Species

Common Merganser male has sleek crest, white chest and sides, and dark eyes. Female is cleaner looking, with brighter brown head that fades abruptly into whitish breast, has a distinct white chin, and has a shorter crest.
Winter loons can look similar, but generally have thicker bills, more white in face, and lack shaggy crest.

Bird Sound

Silent except in courtship when male makes a cat-like "yeow, yeow." Female makes a harsh "gruk."

Eggs look like this

Photo taken from: Philippe Henry / gettyimages.com

	Sources Used To Construct This Page
	Titman, R. D. 1999. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator). In The Birds of North America, No. 443 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

	All photos and videos © Rick Swartzentrover - Free for non-profit use.