Diving birds dipped torso in water when you swim. Yes, you read that right. Lireo Designs. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. The female shapes a nest bowl in the materials that have accumulated at the bottom of the nest cavity (such as wood chips and shavings or old squirrel nests), and may also add grasses. Numbers are thought to be stable, but the species could be vulnerable because it forms such dense concentrations at certain times and places during migration, such as late fall on Lake Erie. For most avian taxa, little is known about. Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. They are abundant in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and in major estuaries along the outer coast. It commonly preys on fish like trout, small salmon, perch, minnows, and eels. Males chase each other during communal courtship displays, sometimes bumping or striking each other. You'll find plans for building a nest box of the appropriate size on our All About Birdhouses site. At times they have been targeted for eradication because they were thought to threaten salmon and trout stocks.Back to top. It is one of the last to migrate south, and is more common than the red-breasted merganser on inland waters. Eggs: - 7 to 14 (creamy white colour). After leaving the nest, the young are in danger from hawks, owls, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Common Loons, and even fish such as northern pike, but they can escape from predators by running on the surface of the water or skulking under banks. The male usually abandons the nest during incubation, and the female cares for the ducklings on her own. Also in Eurasia. The next day there were two males and one female common merganser in the pond. The Common Merganser can be a salt-water or a fresh-water visitor. While they mainly hunt in waters less than about 13 feet deep, in the winter they sometimes venture into deeper waters where fish are schooling. A winter waterfowl migrant to southeast Michigan, the Common Merganser with its sleek white body, deep green iridescent head, and slender red bill stands out on the open water of rivers and lakes. Of the three species of mergansers occurring in North America, the hooded merganser is the only one restricted to the continent. All North American populations migrate, with coastal birds usually moving shorter distances and interior birds moving farther. One of the last to migrate south, they are one of the largest of our ducks and more common than the red-breasted merganser on inland waters. Nestlings eat mostly aquatic invertebrates, switching to fish at about 12 days old.Back to top. The elegant gray-bodied females have rich, cinnamon heads with a short crest. Find out more about nest boxes on our Attract Birds pages. Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family:Anatidae). Common Mergansers nest less frequently in rock crevices, old sheds, chimneys, lighthouses, holes in banks, holes in the ground, hollow logs, and burrows. Common Merganser, juvenile dispersal, molt migration, population structure, satellite telemetry, sea duck. Sibley, D. A. They are a common spring and fall migrant through Klamath … Red-breasted merganser Where and when to see them Goosanders can be seen in the upland rivers of N England, Scotland and Wales in summer. Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. Common Mergansers living along rivers may spend hours resting on rocks or on shore. Breeding Habitat/Resident, Migration or Winter Area. Breeding Season: - Early April to early June. adult females. Broods often join together in groups of multiple females with 40 or more young. The spring movement appears to peak around the sec ond or third week of April (RVB, Spring 1974-82). This duck prefers forested areas where there are numerous ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. Common Mergansers spend much of their time afloat, loafing, fishing, and often sleeping on open water. Sometimes they nest on the ground. Das Verbreitungsgebiet ist holarktisch und umfasst weite Teile des nördlichen Eurasiens sowie Nordamerikas. In The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, editor). Their diet is heaviest in fish during the winter, and includes salmon, trout, suckers, sculpin, shad, sunfish, sticklebacks, chub, minnows, and eels. They spend winters on large lakes, rivers, and reservoirs in the southern and coastal regions of their breeding range, and in additional wintering grounds across the northern and western United States. The Red-breasted Merganser is the least common merganser out of the three regular North American mergansers in Maricopa County and the rest of Arizona. Migrating and Wintering. Longevity records of North American birds. In the first comprehensive account of Minnesota’s avifauna, Hatch , a physician in Minneapolis in the late 1800s, wrote that he would find young Common Mergansers “on the ponds and small grassy lakes” of “his country” in the early days. Being at the top of the aquatic food chain, this species is particularly susceptible to such effects, and people sometimes use Common Mergansers as an indicator of environmental health. Photo about Common merganser during autumn migration. Pearce, John, Mark L. Mallory and Karen Metz. Consider putting up a nest box to attract a breeding pair. In streams and rivers, they float down downstream for a couple of miles, and then fish their way back, diving incessantly along the way. Range/Migration. - Common Merganser, juvenile dispersal, molt migration, population structure, satellite telemetry, sea duck. Red-breasted Mergansers can be found during migration on major lakes in eastern Washington, especially at Banks Lake (Grant County). Well-developed, with open gray-brown eyes, and covered with white, brown, tawny, and reddish down feathers. building a nest box of the appropriate size. Migrating and Wintering. Family: Ducks and Geese: Habitat: Lakes, open water; in winter, coastal bays. Reply. This species is larger than the red-breasted merganser, and is one of the largest of our ducks. Short-distance to medium-distance migrant. Image of game, outdoor, flight - 82072278 Tag Archives: common merganser migration Common merganser at mall. Es werden drei Unterarten unterschieden. Version 1019 Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Bird Banding Laboratory 2019. It is found in higher numbers in the Lower Colorado River in western Arizona, and rare away from there. During nesting season around lakes and rivers, within the northern forest and northward into tundra regions. A cavity nester along wooded waterways in the temperate parts of North America, it has probably benefitted by taking advantage of They help the merganser get a good hold on the fish it catches so the fish can't wiggle away. They may form flocks of up to 75 individuals. It is an expert at diving for fish such as salmon and trout and has a sawbill to help grip the fish. They are not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List. They can stay under for up to 2 minutes, but they normally dive for less than 30 seconds. After laying eggs she lines the nest with downy feathers plucked from her own breast. In northern forests Common Mergansers will take up residence in nest boxes near lakes or rivers, as long as the boxes are large with a large opening. Back to top, Common Merganser populations in North America declined by over 2% per year between 1966 and 2014, resulting in a cumulative decline of 65%, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. All North American populations migrate, with coastal birds usually moving shorter distances and interior birds moving farther. Common mergansers are found throughout all flyway corridors and single file formation or irregular small flocks close to water with speeds up to 100 mph are typical. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Dabbler sp. 6524 Durham Canton, MI 48187 USA. The Common Merganser is … Explore Birds of the World to learn more. Interestingly, it apparently once nested in the state because 6 sets of eggs were collected in Smith County between 1896 and 1899. Females sometimes lay their eggs in other ducks’ nests, including other Common Mergansers as well as Hooded Mergansers or Common Goldeneyes. Length: 25 1/2" Weight: 2 1/2 lbs. Common Mergansers spend the breeding season in northern forested habitats near large lakes and rivers. Females sometimes lay their eggs in other ducks’ nests, including other Common Mergansers as well as Hooded Mergansers or Common Goldeneyes. The Common Merganser is a breeding resident across Minnesota’s northern forest landscape. Notes: - The Goosander or Common Merganser is a sea duck. Migration. Available from http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/. Make sure you put it up well before breeding season. As in other birds with the character, the salmon-pink tinge shown variably by males is probably diet-related, obtained from the carotenoidpigments present in some crusta… (2014). They forage in clear aquatic habitats such as streams, rivers, lakes, coastal bays, and estuaries. Common Merganser Mergus merganser 343 318 3.4 49 25 0.3 8 8. In addition to fish, they take a wide range of other aquatic prey, such as molluscs, crustaceans, worms, insect larvae, and amphibians; more rarely, small mammals and birds may be taken. Three adult females. Breeds across Canada from eastern Alaska, Manitoba, and Newfoundland south in mountains to California, northern New Mexico, Great Lakes, and northern New England. Flocks move in "follow the leader" style, low over the water. Short-distance to medium-distance migrant. Waterbirds 32(1): 133-137, 2009 . USGS Patuxtent Wildlife Research Center (2014b). Large duck with a sleek body and thin red bill. Its flocks are usually small, but these may combine into big concentrations sometimes at large reservoirs. Though they are not prized as a game bird, some Common Mergansers are shot every year either for sport or by mistake (The U.S. They often swim in small groups along the shoreline, dipping their heads underwater to search for prey and then diving with a slight leap. Link. A. and A. S. Love. The males are striking with clean white bodies, dark green heads, and a slender, serrated red bill. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser), version 2.0. Home; About; Portfolio; Services; Blog; Contact; Photo of the Week: Common Merganser. It is an uncommon to rare migrant and winter resident across the state found on deeper lakes and rivers. Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, Jr. Ziolkowski, D. J. and W. A. In winter mostly on coastal waters, … The female chooses the nest site, which is usually in a natural cavity or woodpecker hole in a live or dead tree, up to 100 feet off the ground and within a mile of water. Der Gänsesäger (Mergus merganser) ist der größte Vertreter der Gattung der Säger aus der Familie der Entenvögel (Anatidae). Since they nest in cavities of large trees, breeding Common Mergansers are usually found in mature forests. Attach a guard to keep predators from raiding eggs and young. 252 82 0.9 21 170 1.8 125 207. (2014). Common merganser Skip section navigation Main navigation. Common mergansers are usually seen on large lakes or rivers, but this guy was in a tiny pond in a highly developed area — not common for common mergansers. They can stay under for up to 2 minutes, but they normally dive for less than 30 seconds. (2019). From coastal bays to the high Cascades, in all corners of Oregon and far beyond, common mergansers ply the rivers and peer into still waters in their efficient pursuit of fish. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY, USA. They are much more common in western and coastal Washington during migration and in winter. In winter they move to lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, occasionally to sheltered estuaries. Breeding males have a dark green head and mostly white body with peachy blush on underparts. Common Mergansers are a partial migrant. Key words. The British call this bird the "Goosander." Presumably he was remembering birds he saw in the lakes and ponds … North American Bird Conservation Initiative. Currently, the closest breeding birds are found in Pennsylvania. During the breeding season they supplement their fish diet with caddisflies, mayflies, backswimmers, flies, water striders, dragonflies, crane flies, beetles, caterpillars, freshwater sponges, spiders, snails, mussels, and other invertebrates. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, results and analysis 1966-2013 (Version 1.30.15). In winter, the American race of common merganser ranges along the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland almost to Florida, in the interior from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico and on the Pacific coast from the Aleutian Islands to Mexico. Males chase each other during communal courtship displays, sometimes bumping or striking each other. The hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is a species of merganser.It is the only extant species in the genus Lophodytes.The genus name derives from the Greek language: lophos meaning 'crest', and dutes meaning 'diver'. 734.418.8604. The State of the Birds 2014 Report. The serrated edges of the common merganser's bill are like the teeth of a saw! Females and immature males have rusty brown head and gray bodies with a cleanly demarcated white throat. US Department of Interior, Washington, DC, USA. Foods: Forages on rivers and lakes for fish, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates. The Sibley Guide to Birds, second edition. The common merganser is sometimes called the sawbill! Common Mergansers, Mergus merganser, have a long slender appearance in flight. This bird has become unpopular with anglers due to its efficiency in taking fish. About ODFW; Articles; Workshops & Events; Species Areas Seasons Licensing Info Workshops & Events Game Bird Hunting. Often when one bird dives in a large group, the others follow the leader and disappear. They tend to prefer freshwater wintering habitat over saltwater, but they may winter in coastal bays, estuaries, and harbors.Back to top, Common Mergansers mostly eat fish, but they also eat aquatic invertebrates (including insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and worms), frogs, small mammals, birds, and plants. Mergansers are our only ducks that specialize in eating fish. Birds will move away from areas where rivers and major lakes freeze in the winter, but will remain resident where waters are open. These large, handsome ducks are among my favorites and have been for a long time. Common Merganser (Mergus Merganser) Appearance: sexual dimorphism – males are larger, look like females except during breeding season – red beak and legs, brown head with ragged crest, white chin and chest, gray and white back, large white patches on upper wings (visible in flight) During breeding season males have green heads, mostly white, black stripe down back – these … The bird is striking in appearance; both sexes have crests that they can raise or lower, and the breeding plumage of the male is handsomely patterned and coloured. This species is also native to Eurasia, where it is commonly called the “goosander.” Our North American common mergansers are a separate subspecies, Mergus merganser americanus. Explore Birds of the World to learn more. In some parts of Europe, with artificial nesting sites provided, the species has become a … The Hooded is the smallest of our three native merganser species, and often seems to be the least numerous, as it tends to live around swamps and wooded ponds where it may be overlooked. The male usually abandons the nest during incubation, and the … Like the other mergansers, these piscivorous ducks have serrated edges to their bills to help them grip their prey, so they are often known as "sawbills". Surf/Black Scoter 279 138 1.5 65 141 1.5 39 102. Diving birds dipped torso in water when you swim. Mergus merganser Range: Post-breeding migration This map depicts the range boundary, defined as the areas where the species is estimated to occur at a rate of 5% or more for at least one week within the post-breeding migration season. Pesticides, toxic metals, and acid rain can degrade the habitat of Common Mergansers, thin their eggshells, and reduce their prey. They find their prey by sight, often probing sediments and underwater stones with their slender bills, which have sharp serrations for grasping slippery prey. Winters south to northern Mexico, Gulf Coast states, and Georgia (rarely farther). Photo by Chris Bosak A common merganser swims in a pond in Danbury, Conn., March 2019. During migration and on wintering grounds, the Ross's goose uses lakes and shallow marshes for roosting and agricultural crops and irrigated hay meadows for feeding. The population size and trend for mergansers are not reliably known, as many aerial surveys do not distinguish between Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, whose breeding range overlap extensively. She escorts them from the small streams and ponds near the nest site to larger lakes, rivers, and bays downstream. Forested wetlands, brackish estuaries and tidal creeks are preferred wintering habitats. Common Mergansers are often the last waterfowl migrant to move south in the fall and the first to return north in the spring. They readily nest in boxes, including those designed for the much smaller Common Goldeneye. They are a common spring and fall migrant through Klamath and Harney basins. The Common Merganser is the largest of the three North American merganser species. (2015). Clear water is important for locating prey (Palmer 1976). They arrive in Oregon around mid-October and leave around mid-November to continue their migration. seen in all seasons in Vermont, migration patterns are difficult to discern. The Common Merganser is not common in Tennessee during any part of the year. Common Mergansers are streamlined ducks that float gracefully down small rivers or shallow shorelines. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates some 35,000 Common and Red-breasted Mergansers are shot by hunters annually). Common Mergansers are often the last waterfowl migrant to move south in the fall and the first to return north in the spring. It breeds across Canada in areas where trees are large enough to support suitable nesting cavities. Posted on March 15, 2019 by Chris Bosak. I saw a common merganser at Danbury Fair mall the other day. Common migrant and winter resident on rivers and lakes, foraging in deep water. Creating usable website solutions. Photo about Common merganser during autumn migration. More on that coming up in the next few days. Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family:Anatidae). The common merganser dives for prey like fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. This fish-eating duck is the typical merganser of freshwater lakes. Lutmerding, J. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA. Image of funny, female, three - 82073440 , with coastal birds usually moving shorter distances and interior birds moving farther bodies... 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