Are red-breasted mergansers rare?

What is the breeding habitat of a merganser?

Breeding habitat is in the tundra and boreal-forest zones. Breeding occurs on fresh, brackish, and saltwater wetlands and in sheltered bays. During migration and in winter, Red-breasted Mergansers occur mostly on salt water, in coastal bays, estuaries, and other protected coastal areas.

Where do red breasted mergansers live in Washington State?

Red-breasted Mergansers can be found during migration on major lakes in eastern Washington, especially at Banks Lake (Grant County). They are much more common in western and coastal Washington during migration and in winter. They are abundant in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and in major estuaries along the outer coast.

What does a red breasted merganser look like?

The ragged-crested Red-breasted Merganser winters in Washington but breeds farther to the north. The adult male in breeding plumage has a reddish-brown mottled breast, white neck collar, green head, and red eyes.

Do red breasted mergansers migrate?

Red-breasted mergansers typically migrate in small flocks of 5 to 15, with coastal flights occurring during the day and inland flights at night. View more species in our Waterfowl ID gallery.

How many red breasted mergansers are there in the world?

Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population of Red-breasted Mergansers at 370,000. The species rates an 11 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, which means it is not on the Partners in Flight Watch List and is a species of low conservation concern.

What is the difference between a red breasted merganser and a loon?

Red-breasted mergansers have ragged crests that you won’t find in common loons. These birds have green heads, while common loons have entirely black heads. Besides, red-breasted mergansers have bright orange bills, but common loons have dagger-like, black bills.

What do red breasted mergansers eat?

Their diet of fish such as salmon and trout has brought them into conflict with game fishermen. At home on both fresh- and saltwater, red-breasted mergansers are most commonly seen around the UK’s coastline in winter.

What is a red breasted merganser?

The streamlined red-breasted merganser is a handsome bird and a great fisher – its long, serrated bill helps it to catch and hold its slippery fish prey. It is most commonly spotted around the coast in winter.

How much does a merganser bird weigh?

The common merganser can measure up to 65 centimetres in length and weigh in as the largest at 1.5 kilograms. The red-breasted merganser is next in size, up to 60 centimetres long and weighing up to 1 kilogram.

What is the difference between common and red-breasted mergansers?

Females and nonbreeding males look like Common Mergansers, but Red-breasted Mergansers tend to use saltwater more often than Common Mergansers. The Red-breasted Merganser breeds farther north and winters farther south than the other American mergansers. Red-breasted Mergansers don’t acquire breeding plumage until they are 2 years old.

What do red-breasted mergansers eat?

Red-breasted Mergansers primarily eat small fish (4–6 inches long), but also crustaceans, insects, and tadpoles on occasion. In the summer, they forage in shallow waters with submerged vegetation and plentiful fish. In the winter they forage in shallow marine waters.

What is another name for a merganser?

Common Mergansers are sometimes called sawbills, fish ducks, or goosanders. The word “merganser” comes from the Latin and roughly translates to “plunging goose”—a good name for this very large and often submerged duck. You may see gulls trailing flocks of foraging Common Mergansers.

What is the difference between common merganser and red breasted mergansers?

The crests on Red-breasted Mergansers ( Mergus serrator) always appear more wispy than the crests on Common Mergansers. The bill has a more orange cast to it than the bills of the Common Mergansers and it is also thin and more slender.

What is the difference between a male and female hooded merganser?

Males have a white belly and sides whereas male Hooded Mergansers have cinnamon sides. Buffleheads are smaller than Hooded Mergansers. Female Buffleheads have a white spot on the face that females and nonbreeding male Hooded Mergansers Lack.

What is a merganser duck?

These handsome diving ducks belong to the sawbill family, so called because of their long, serrated bills, used for catching fish. Their diet of fish such as salmon and trout has brought them into conflict with game fishermen. At home on both fresh- and saltwater, red-breasted mergansers are most commonly seen around the UK’s coastline in winter.

How many fish do mergansers eat a day?

Red-breasted Mergansers need to eat 15 to 20 fish per day, which researchers suggest means they need to dive underwater 250–300 times per day or forage for 4–5 hours to meet their energy needs.

Who first described the common merganser?

The first formal description of the common merganser was by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae.

How did the Buffalo breasted merganser get its name?

In 1843 John James Audubon used the name “Buff-breasted Merganser” in addition to “goosander” in his book The Birds of America. The three subspecies differ in only minor detail: M. m. merganser – Linnaeus, 1758 is found throughout northern Europe and northern Asiatic Russia.

How do you identify a merganser?

In flight both sexes have a prominent white lower wing panel. Red-breasted Mergansers tend to sit low in the water and fly at an angle with the head higher than their feet. They swim with the head partially submerged, diving underwater to capture small fish with their serrated bill.

What is a good nickname for a merganser duck?

No duck has as many colorful nicknames as the merganser. My favorites include “dragon,” “sawbill,” “big guy,” “fish duck” and “Catholic duck.” You’ve probably heard others, too. Keep it clean, though.

Where do merganser birds live?

Most of the merganser species favor riverine habitats, the exception being the Red-breasted Merganser, which is common at sea. Common Merganser or Goosander, Mergus merganser – Found in Europe, North Asia and North America.

What does a merganser duck eat?

Merganser Ducks. Mergus are seaducks that primarily feed on fish. Along with the Smew and Hooded Merganser, they are therefore often known as “sawbills” – so named because of the serrated edges to their bills to help them grip their slippery prey. Most of the merganser species favor riverine habitats, the exception being…

Do mergansers prey on salmon?

Common Mergansers have come under fire for preying on salmon, but studies in British Columbia show that the most common prey item there for Common Mergansers is the sculpin. Common Mergansers are common breeders in appropriate habitat on both sides of the Cascades.