Mergus serrator
The Red-breasted Merganser is a striking diving duck with a slender, serrated bill. Males display a dark green head, a white neck ring, and a reddish-brown breast. Their sides are grey, with a white belly and black back.
Females are more subdued, with a reddish-brown head and grey body. Both sexes have a shaggy crest, but it's more pronounced in males during breeding season. Juveniles resemble females but with a shorter crest.
Length
52cm to 58cm
Wingspan
70cm to 86cm
Weight
800g to 1.35kg
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Red-breasted Mergansers inhabit coastal marine waters, estuaries, and large freshwater lakes. They breed in northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, including parts of Scotland and Iceland.
During winter, they migrate to coastal areas in temperate zones. In the UK, they are common winter visitors along coastlines, with some breeding populations in northern Scotland.
Sea level to 1,500 meters
Temperate, Subarctic
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Red-breasted Merganser. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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