Where is Red-breasted Merganser found?

What is the behavior of a red breasted merganser?

Behavior. 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.

Where do red breasted mergansers live in the UK?

The UK breeding population of red-breasted mergansers are concentrated in the north-west of Scotland, England, Wales and in parts of N Ireland.

What kind of bird is a red-breasted merganser?

The Red-breasted Merganser is a shaggy-headed diving duck also known as the “sawbill”; named for its thin bill with tiny serrations on it that it uses to keep hold of slippery fish. It breeds in the boreal forest on freshwater and saltwater wetlands. Males are decked out with a dark green shaggy head, a red bill and eye,…

How do red breasted mergansers fly?

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.

Where do red breasted mergansers nest?

Red-breasted Mergansers nest along forested riverbanks, marsh edges, lakeshores, coastal islands, and sandy shores with vegetation. They are never far from water. Female Red-breasted Mergansers select a spot on the ground under dense cover from low tree branches, fallen logs, or boulders.

Why are red-breasted mergansers endangered?

Red-breasted Mergansers and other diving ducks are frequently caught and drowned in fishing nets and may suffer when wetlands and lakes are contaminated by pesticides. Like other fish-eating birds, Red-breasted Mergansers may be persecuted by owners of fish farms and by fishers, who claim that they deplete fish stocks.

Where can I see mergansers in the UK?

At home on both fresh- and saltwater, red-breasted mergansers are most commonly seen around the UK’s coastline in winter. They are gregarious, forming flocks of several hundred in the autumn. Fish. UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually.

Where do red breasted mergansers live in winter?

At home on both fresh- and saltwater, red-breasted mergansers are most commonly seen around the UK’s coastline in winter. They are gregarious, forming flocks of several hundred in the autumn. UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March.

What does a male merganser bird look like?

Female and nonbreeding males are brownish gray overall with a brownish chin, a dingy breast, and a brown shaggy head. 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.

How fast do red-breasted mergansers fly?

Red-breasted Mergansers are among the fastest flying ducks, clocking speeds of up to 81 miles per hour. To get airborne though, they need a running start. Their legs are positioned near their rear making it difficult to walk on land, but are an asset when diving. Red-breasted Mergansers do not defend territories and are social birds year-round.

How do red-breasted mergansers swim?

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. This opens in a new window.

Where do red-breasted mergansers nest?

Unlike other mergansers, which usually nest in tree cavities, Red-breasted Mergansers nest on the ground in a variety of sites near water with vegetation. They nest alone or in colonies often with gulls and terns.

How often do red breasted mergansers need to dive?

Red-breasted Mergansers don’t acquire breeding plumage until they are 2 years old. 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.

How do you find a merganser in a river?

Common Mergansers are numerous in summer along rivers in northern North America, and many a canoe trip will turn them up without much trouble. Look for them sitting on rocks in midstream, disappearing around the next bend, or flying along the river, when their white wing patches and heavy bodies make them easy to identify.

What does a merganser look like?

Common Mergansers are streamlined ducks that float gracefully down small rivers or shallow shorelines. The males are striking with clean white bodies, dark green heads, and a slender, serrated red bill.

Where do red-breasted mergansers live in the winter?

It parades around coastal waters and large inland lakes in the United States and Mexico in the winter. The winter months are the best time to go looking for a Red-breasted Merganser, when they are fairly common along coastal waters in the United States and Mexico.

What does a male merganser look like?

The back is black and the bill red. Females and immatures are gray-bodied with a white chest and rusty-cinnamon heads. In flight, both sexes show large white patches on the upperwings (larger in adult males). Behavior Common Mergansers dive underwater to catch fish.

What kind of bird is a hooded merganser?

Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. Hooded Mergansers are small ducks with a thin bill and a fan-shaped, collapsible crest that makes the head look oversized and oblong. In flight, the wings are thin and the tail is relatively long and rounded.

Do red breasted mergansers nest in pairs?

Red-breasted Mergansers form mated pairs each season during their spring migration, usually starting in March. Groups of males gather to display for a single female, but these roving groups of male mergansers are not considered leks, as they don’t congregate in a specific location.

What is The wingspan of a red breasted merganser?

The handsome Red-breasted Merganser, also known as the “Sawbill”, is a welcome sight along coastlines during the winter. Adult male in breeding plumage. Red-breasted Mergansers measure 20.1-25.2 inches (51-64 centimeters) in length, 28.2-47.6 ounces (800-1350 grams) weight, and 26.0-29.1 inches (66-74 centimeters) in wingspan.