Common merganser, Mergus merganser or goosander (Eurasian) is a giant seaduck found in rivers and lakes throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. The common merganser is mostly a fish eater. It nests in tree holes.
Quick Overview: Mergus Merganser – Common Merganser
Body size: Around 22-27 in (56-69 cm) and a weight of 1723 g (60.8 oz)
Main colors: Black, White, Green-Black
Range: Throughout the United States
Migratory Bird: Yes
Best time of the year to see in the U.S.: January, February, December
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Common Merganser Description
The diving duck is a large, sleek bird with black upper parts and white underparts. The head and upper neck are green-black, and the crest of the head is rarely apparent. The long, slender bill is a brilliant crimson color. Black wings with several white patches.
Size
These birds have a length of 22-27 in (56-69 cm) and a weight of 1723 g (60.8 oz). Their wings could range from 31-37 in (79-94 cm).
Feeding
Primarily fish. Consumes a variety of fish; will also consume mussels, shrimp, salamanders, and occasionally plant stuff. Adult males are capable of swallowing fish up to one foot in length. Ducklings feed primarily on aquatic insects.
Habitat
Common mergansers like woody regions along streams and rivers, as well as locations near small inland lakes. They are also found around the Great Lakes’ coasts and on British Columbia’s coastal streams.
Behavior
Frequently swim in small groups along the shoreline, dropping their heads deep enough underwater to hunt for food. With a little leap, dives regularly and easily (White 1957. Mergansers’ food and natural history on salmon waters in Canada’s Maritime provinces.
Mergus Merganser Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Anseriformes
- Family: Anatidae
- Genus: Mergus
- Species: Mergus merganser
Best time of the year to see
The best time to see these birds in the United States is during the winter season (December to February).
Distribution of the Common Merganser in the USA
Throughout much of North America, this species is prevalent. Breeds in forested rivers, ponds, and lakes from eastern Alaska to Newfoundland. Northern New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, and the western states are all home to this species.
The Common Merganser can be found in the following states in the United States – Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.