Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)

Other Names (World)
Goosander, Common Merganser, Spear Duck

Family
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans)

Size
58 - 66 cm

First Described (Guide)
Linnaeus, 1758

Habitat
Breeds on northern lakes and rivers. In winter on lakes, reservoirs, flooded gravel pits and sheltered coasts.

Range (Guide)

Afghanistan (B), Albania (B) (NB), Austria (B) (NB), Azerbaijan (NB), Bangladesh, Belarus (B) (NB) (P), Belgium (NB), Bermuda, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina (E) (B), Bulgaria (NB), Canada (B) (NB) (P), China (mainland), Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska) (B) (NB), Czech Republic (B) (NB), Denmark (B) (NB), Estonia (B) (NB) (P), Finland (B) (NB) (P), France (B) (NB) (P), Germany (B) (NB) (P), Greece (B) (NB), Hungary (NB), Iceland (B) (NB), India, Iran [Islamic Republic of], Iraq (NB), Ireland (B) (NB), Italy (B) (NB), Japan, Kazakhstan (B), Kyrgyzstan (B) (NB), Latvia (B) (NB) (P), Lebanon, Liechtenstein (NB), Lithuania (B) (NB) (P), Luxembourg (NB), Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of] (B) (NB), Mexico, Moldova [Republic of], Mongolia (B), Montenegro (B) (NB), Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles (NB), North Korea, Norway (B) (NB) (P), Pakistan, Poland (B) (NB) (P), Romania (B) (NB) (P), Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B), Russia (European) (B) (NB) (P), Serbia (B) (NB), Slovakia (Slovak Republic) (NB), Slovenia (B) (NB), South Korea, Spain (NB), St Pierre and Miquelon (NB) (P), Sweden (B) (NB) (P), Switzerland (B) (NB), Taiwan (China), Tajikistan (B), Turkey (NB), Ukraine (B) (NB) (P), United Kingdom (B) (NB), USA (B), Uzbekistan (B).

Vagrant to Algeria, Cyprus, Greenland, Israel, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Tunisia.

Population
Estimated population is 1,700,000 - 2,400,000 (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Mainly fish. Occasionally small mammals and insects. Young feed mainly on insects.

Voice
Mostly silent. Male, a ringing call uttered in display, and occasional growls when disturbed.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (183)...)

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) [XC303043]
by Ulf Elman from Muri bei Bern, Bern, Bern, Switzerland (call)

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) [XC648959]
by from Estavayer, La Broye, Fribourg, Switzerland (call)

Nest
In a hole of a tree or sometimes a rock crevice. Also in nest boxes.

Eggs (Guide)
7 - 13; creamy-white; ellipsoidal. Incubation: 34 - 35 days; by male.

Subspecies
Subspecies comatus synonymous with orientalis. Hybridization with Redhead (Aythya americana) recorded in captivity.

The following 3 subspecies are recognised:

merganser Linnaeus, 1758 - Palearctic, from Iceland east to Kamchatka, south to central Europe, north-eastern China and northern Japan.
orientalis Gould, 1845 - Central Asia, from north-eastern Afghanistan east through Tibet and Himalayas to western China.
americanus Cassin, 1852 - North America, from Alaska to Newfoundland, south to northern and western USA.

References
See References.

The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7

Files:

JPG files for Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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