Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Mergus
Conservation status: least_concern
The Common Merganser is a large diving duck with a sleek, streamlined body and a distinctive long, thin bill with a hooked tip that's perfectly adapted for catching slippery fish. Males are striking with their dark green heads, white breasts, and black backs, while females and juveniles are brown and gray with reddish-brown heads, making them easy to spot on rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.
How To Identify
They are medium-sized diving ducks distinguished by their streamlined body and prominent, serrated bill. Males boast brilliant iridescent green plumage, contrasting with the mottled brown appearance of females.
Habitat
They inhabit clear, fast-flowing rivers and freshwater lakes in northern temperate and boreal regions, preferring areas with good fish populations and minimal human disturbance.
Behaviour
These diving ducks are highly social and often hunt cooperatively in groups, herding fish into tight balls before diving together to feed with remarkable synchronization.
Native Range
The common merganser is a large sea duck of rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe Asia and North America.
Did You Know?
Common Mergansers are expert underwater hunters with serrated bills designed like tiny saw teeth to grip slippery fish, and they can dive to depths of 60 feet or more. Males perform an elaborate courtship display that includes throwing their heads back and producing a distinctive mechanical call.
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