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Common Merganser

Ducks, Geese & Grebes

Photo: (c) Dick Mansfield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)

Mergus merganser

Basic stats

Diet

Mainly fish; also molluscs, crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and amphibians

Habitat

Rivers and lakes in forested areas; nests in tree cavities

Size

58–72cm

Wingspan

78–97cm

Weight

0.9–2.1kg

The common merganser, or goosander, is a large duck of rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, Asia and North America, 58 to 72cm long with a wingspan of 78 to 97cm. Breeding males are easily recognised, with a white body with a salmon-pink tinge, a black head with an iridescent green sheen and largely white inner wings. Females and eclipse males are largely grey with a reddish-brown head and white chin (Wikipedia, general species account).

These fish-eating ducks have serrated bill edges to grip prey, so are known as sawbills. They nest in holes in trees, so need mature forest for breeding, and the young are sexually mature at two years. The sources opened give nothing specific to Bhutan.

Quick answers

What does the Common Merganser eat?
Mainly fish; also molluscs, crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and amphibians
What habitat does the Common Merganser live in?
Rivers and lakes in forested areas; nests in tree cavities
How big is the Common Merganser?
58–72cm
What is the wingspan of the Common Merganser?
78–97cm
How much does the Common Merganser weigh?
0.9–2.1kg
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