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Bird name:

Common Merganser

Mergus merganserOrder: ANSERIFORMES Family: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)

Codes: Common Name: COME Scientific Name: MERMER ITIS Taxonomic No.: 175185

Head

Topo Map: Duck-like Head

Bill Shape: Hooked Seabird
Eye Color: Dark brown.
Head Pattern: Plain, Crested or plumed
Crown Color: Black with green gloss.
Forehead Color: Black with green gloss.
Nape Color: Black with green gloss.
Throat Color: Black with green gloss.
Cere color: No Data

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Body

Topo Map: Duck-like Body

Length Range: 56-69 cm (22-27 in)
Weight: 1723 g (60.8 oz)
Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
Color: Green, White, Black
Underparts: White
Upperparts: Black
Back Pattern: Solid
Belly Pattern: Solid
Breast Pattern: Solid

Flight

Topo Map: Duck-like Flight

Flight Pattern: Direct flight with rapid wing beats., Bill, head, body, and tail held in a straight line.
Wingspan Range: 79-94 cm (31-37 in)
Wing Shape: Tapered-Wings
Tail Shape: Pointed Tail
Tail Pattern: Solid
Upper Tail: Gray
Under Tail: White
Leg Color: Red-orange

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Common Merganser

Common Merganser: Large, sleek diving duck with black upperparts and white underparts. Head and upper neck are green-black with head crest usually not visible. Long, thin bill is bright red. Wings are black with extensive white patches. Feeds on fish, mollusks, crustaceans, insects and plants.

● Song: "croack"

● Foraging & Feeding: Common Merganser: Feeds on insects, small fish, and aquatic plants. Forages by diving from the surface and chasing down prey underwater; hooked upper mandible with serrations are designed to catch slippery fish.

● Breeding & nesting: Common Merganser: Six to seventeen light buff or yellow eggs are laid in a down-lined hollow on the ground or in a tree cavity. Incubation ranges from 28 to 35 days and is carried out by the female; young begin to fly at 65 to 70 days.

● Similar species: Common Merganser: Red-breasted Merganser has streaked or spotted breast, gray sides, and distinct crest.

Flight Pattern

Direct flight with rapid wing beats., Bill, head, body, and tail held in a straight line.

● Range & Habitat: Common Merganser: Breeds from eastern Alaska to Newfoundland on wooded rivers, ponds, and lakes. Spends winters in south as far as Mexico, mainly on large lakes and rivers, occasionally on saltwater.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationFairly common, Stable

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight60.8 Ounces

Duck-like Head

Duck-like Body

Duck-like Flight

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America

Common Merganser

Head

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Body

Flight

Common Merganser

Flight Pattern