Habitat: They occur on large ponds, reservoirs, and lakes. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA. It is common except in summer when it is rare. Most of these birds are about two feet long, though each species varies in size. Red-breasted Mergansers are common and their populations were stable between 1966 and 2015, according to the best estimates of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (although the species’ northern breeding grounds are partially outside of the survey’s coverage area). The IUCN lists the Common as Least Concern, the Red-breasted as Least Concern, the Scaly-sided as Endangered, and the Brazilian as Critically Endangered. Most species prefer hunting in shallow water, but when food is scarce they do forage for prey in deeper waters. Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator Middelste zaagbek / Mittelsäger / Harle huppé. A., and A. S. Love (2017). Outside of the breeding season many of these ducks migrate, and they do so in large groups. U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. USA. Common Mergansers living along rivers may spend hours resting on rocks or on shore. Finally, Red-breasts live in Europe, Asia, Greenland, and northern North America. Description. Finally, Red-breasts live in Europe, Asia, Greenland, and northern North America. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator). However, human activity does impact their habitats through deforestation, urbanization, and pollution. Some of the different habitats that they occupy include wetlands, swamps, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, bays, estuaries, and more. Courting males also shake their head side to side to get the attention of a female. Red-Breasted Merganser - CWHR B106 [ds1439] GIS Dataset Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York, USA. Snowy egrets, Bonaparte's, and ring-billed gulls will wait at the surface to grab fish scared by merganser foraging. Different species have different ranges and distributions. They are never far from water. These four species are the “typical” Mergansers. Seasonal changes can also impact what these birds eat as well. The principal region of overlap is in southeastern and southern Canada. Lines of mergansers also herd minnows into restricted areas, allowing easy capture. She plucks down feathers from her breast to help insulate the nest. Avian Conservation Assessment Database. Though they are ducks, they are wild animals and do not enjoy human interaction. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966–2015. The Red-breasted Merganser’s distinguishing characteristics are a long neck, a scarlet bill, and a double crest at the back of the heads of both males and females. Brazilians only live in Brazil. Its eyes are red, the neck collar is white and the chest is reddish brown. Different species have different ranges and distributions. Some of the different plumage colors include white, black, grey, brown, tan, and more. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY, USA. Dispersal and Site Fidelity. Additional Information : Lake Erie is one of the main staging grounds for Red-breasted Mergansers, and it is not uncommon to see tens of thousands in a day while lake watching during fall and spring migration. Swift direct flight with … Its flocks are usually small, but these may combine into big concentrations sometimes at large reservoirs. Males are decked out with a dark green shaggy head, a red bill and eye, and a rusty chest. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) Joelle-Marcelle; Jan 18, 2021; ... Habitat lake Location Toulvern, Baden. The Red-breasted merganser can be seen all year in our area and in the refuge. Zoos keep some species of Mergansers in their care. Females are brown-gray with gray-washed, red-brown head, double crest and white breast and belly. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Feeds mostly on small fish. Red-breasted mergansers dive and swim underwater. 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