Common Merganser

(Mergus merganser)

Conservation Status
Common Merganser
Photo by Ramona Abrego
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB, SNRN - Unranked Breeding and Nonbreeding

 
  Minnesota

not listed

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

 
           
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Size

 
 

22 to 27 in length

34 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Large rivers, deep lakes

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Mid February to mid-May and mid-September to mid-December

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common migrant, uncommon breeder

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Anseriformes (waterfowl)  
 

Family

Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans)  
  Subfamily Anatinae (dabbling ducks)  
 

Genus

Mergus (greater mergansers)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

American Merganser (Mergus merganser americanus)

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser merganser)

Himalayan Large Merganser (Mergus merganser orientalis)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Ann Michels

 
 

There was a flock of them swimming with Canada Geese. Perhaps 20 or 30. This is the second day I’ve seen them there.

  Common Merganser  
           
    Common Merganser   Common Merganser  
           
    Common Merganser   Common Merganser  
 

Ramona Abrego

 
    Common Merganser   Common Merganser  
           
    Common Merganser   Common Merganser  
           
    Common Merganser   Common Merganser  
           
    Common Merganser      
 

Wayne Rasmussen

 
 

Merganser family

 
    Common Merganser      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Common Merganser
Allen Chartier
 
  Common Merganser  
  Common Mergansers
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
 
  Common Mergansers  
  Common Merganser
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Common Merganser  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Avi Birds

 
  Common Merganser / Goosander [Mergus merganser]
May 4, 2022
 
   
 
About

In this video, we learn about the common merganser.

   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  common merganser
groenelantaarn
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Nov 28, 2010

Mergus merganser

blijdorp rotterdam holland

   
  common merganser (female)
groenelantaarn
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Aug 5, 2010

female Mergus merganser...

blijdorp rotterdam,holland

   
  Common Merganser Day Care
MatesMusicians
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jun 21, 2011

Just before I could set my camera up I witnessed a Common Merganser mother of two, drop her brood off with a larger group. The mother of two headed up stream leaving her offspring with a single female Common Merganser who was already watching 15 young Mergansers. Because ducks forage for themselves from the day they are born, they don't rely on there parents for food. A mother Merganser who looks after multiple broods is also increasing her broods chance of survival from predator attacks. The more ducklings there are in a group the less of a chance one of her own will be a casualty.

   
  Harle bièvre / Common Merganser / Mergus merganser.mov
cameranature
 
   
 
About

Published on Jan 13, 2013

Le Harle bièvre est un canard piscivore qui ne niche en France que sur les grands lacs Alpins (Annecy, Léman). Il fréquente volontiers les ports. Les Harles de cette vidéo ont été filmés en Suisse à Genève où ils sont assez faciles à observer.

   
  Common Merganser male (Mergus merganser)
Frank Blangeard
 
   
 
About

Published on Jan 1, 2013

This common merganser was seen on a small icy pond in Oregon on January 1st, 2013. Many other birds were on the pond but this was the only merganser. Taken with a Sony DSC-HX200V.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
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  Ann Michels
3/14/2021

Location: Theodore Wirth Park

There was a flock of them swimming with Canada Geese. Perhaps 20 or 30. This is the second day I’ve seen them there.

Common Merganser  
  Ramona Abrego

Location: Lake County on Lake Superior

Common Merganser  
  Ramona Abrego

Location: Becker County

Common Merganser  
  Deb Wyatt
7/22/2018

Location: South shore of Star Island, Cass Lake, MN.

Observed a female ... with 7 ducklings on the south (sandy) shore of Star Island. She swam off toward the west. One of the babies rode on her back.

 
  Wayne Rasmussen
5/13/2018

Location: Ramsey, Maplewood Hts Park

Common Merganser  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars

 

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