Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Overview
Description
The red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) is a duck species that is native to much of the Northern Hemisphere. The red breast that gives the species its common name is only displayed by males in breeding plumage. Individuals fly rapidly, and feed by diving from the surface to pursue aquatic animals underwater, using serrated bills to capture slippery fish. They migrate each year from breeding sites on lakes and rivers to their mostly coastal wintering areas, making them the only species in the genus Mergus to frequent saltwater. They form flocks outside of breeding season that are usually small but can reach 100 individuals. The worldwide population of this species is stable, though it is threatened in some areas by habitat loss and other factors.1
Taxonomy
Anseriformes > Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl) > Waterfowl
Sightings
Relevant Sightings
- 02-24-2024 - California, United States (First Sighting)
- 02-15-2025 - Flevoland, Netherlands (Last Sighting / Only Photo)
Places Seen
- California, United States
- Flevoland, Netherlands
- Ontario, Canada
Media
Photographs
Audio Recordings
No audio recordings available.