Common Merganser - Mergus merganser

Length 2.1 ft (63.5 cm)
Wingspan 2.8 ft (86.4 cm)
Weight 3.4 lb (1542.2 g)
Clutch Size 8-12
Chicks at birth Precocial
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern
Continents:NA, EU, AS
Videos/Pictures

Common Mergansers, or Goosander, are very elegant looking birds. They are found in forested areas near lake and rivers in North America, Europe and central Asia. They are fish eaters and their bills have serrated edges which help them grip their prey.

John James Audubon called this bird the "Buff-breasted Merganser".

Juvenile
Picture/image of Common Merganser
06/09/2009 - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA
06/09/2009 - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
06/09/2009 - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA
06/09/2009 - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
06/09/2009 - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA
06/09/2009 - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA
Breeding (Nov-July(M) Oct-July(F))
Picture/image of Common Merganser
Female with Mallard duck in foreground
01/28/2010 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA
Female with Mallard duck in foreground
01/28/2010 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
Female
03/09/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Female
03/09/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
Male
03/09/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Male
03/09/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
Male & Female
03/09/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Male & Female
03/09/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
Female
03/10/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Female
03/10/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
Male
03/11/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Male
03/11/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
Male
03/11/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Male
03/11/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
Male
03/11/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Male
03/11/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
2 Females and 1 Male (background)
03/11/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
2 Females and 1 Male (background)
03/11/2010 - Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA
Non-breeding (July-Oct(M))
Picture/image of Common Merganser
09/19/2009 - Traverse, Michigan
09/19/2009 - Traverse, Michigan
Picture/image of Common Merganser
09/19/2009 - Traverse, Michigan
09/19/2009 - Traverse, Michigan
Picture/image of Common Merganser
Male molting to non-breeding plumage
11/17/2011 - Union City Library, CA
Male molting to non-breeding plumage
11/17/2011 - Union City Library, CA
Picture/image of Common Merganser
08/11/2008 - Quarry Lakes Reg. Rec Area, Fremont, CA
08/11/2008 - Quarry Lakes Reg. Rec Area, Fremont, CA

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