Female Merganser

Female merganser

Flight identification Males should present few problems: male Goosander is 'white-necked' whereas Red-breasted Merganser is dark-necked. Drake Goosander exhibits far more white on the inner wing, which in Red-breasted Merganser is less extensive and is divided by black lines. Redheads take a bit more practice.

What's a Maganza?

(informal) feminine noun (Andes) idleness ⧫ laziness.

What is another name for a merganser?

merganser, also called Sawbill, fish duck, or trash duck, any of several species of Mergus, long-bodied, more or less crested diving ducks; though essentially freshwater birds, they are classified with scoters and goldeneyes in the sea duck tribe, Mergini (family Anatidae, order Anseriformes).

Why is it called a hooded merganser?

Hooded mergansers are ducks named for the white, fanlike crests that males have on their heads. These birds are the smallest North American mergansers. They breed in Canada and spend winters along coastal regions in the U.S.

What does a female merganser look like?

Females and immatures are gray-bodied with a white chest and rusty-cinnamon heads. From late summer to mid-autumn, males wear a nonbreeding plumage that looks very similar to female plumage. In flight, both sexes show large white patches on the upperwings (larger in adult males).

What Does a female Goosander look like?

Male goosanders are white, with dark green heads, black backs and long, red, hooked bills. The white sides and breast sometimes have a pink glow. Females are grey, with a gingery or reddish-brown head and a white throat.

Do mergansers taste good?

Apparently not—unlike the farm-raised ducks on the menus of fine restaurants (and other wild species, like teal), mergansers eat fish, giving their meat a strong flavor that many people find unpalatable.

Is a merganser a loon?

Common Mergansers are commonly mistaken for adult loons in breeding plumage, however a few key traits differentiate the species. Bill color: The Common Loon in its breeding plumage has a black bill. A male Common Merganser has a red bill. Head color: The Common Loon has an iridescent black head.

How long do mergansers live?

The oldest Common Merganser on record was a female, and at least 13 years, 5 months old.

What is the difference between a duck and a merganser?

Description. The long, narrow bill with serrated edges readily distinguishes mergansers from all other ducks. Common mergansers are among the largest ducks, but are less stocky than eiders and goldeneyes. In flight, they appear more elongated than other ducks, flying in trailing lines close to the water's surface.

Can mergansers walk on land?

Behavior. Red-breasted Mergansers are among the fastest flying ducks, clocking speeds of up to 81 miles per hour. To get airborne though, they need a running start. Their legs are positioned near their rear making it difficult to walk on land, but are an asset when diving.

Where do mergansers sleep at night?

Cavities are typically 10–50 feet off the ground, up to about 90 feet. Hooded Mergansers nest readily in boxes, preferring those with wood shavings or nest material from previous uses. They prefer cavities with 3–5 inch openings.

Are mergansers good?

Mergansers don't make the best table fare, which is why most hunters say they avoid them. But is that absolutely true? Probably not. I won't argue that mergansers taste good, but if you clean them quickly, soak them in salted water, and grill them rare or use them in other dishes, they aren't that awful.

Where do mergansers go in the winter?

In eastern North America, many Hooded Mergansers move south and southwest in winter, but some actually migrate north to spend winters in the Great Lakes and southern Canada. Most of the Hooded Mergansers that breed in the upper Midwest migrate along the Mississippi River.

What does a hen Hooded Merganser look like?

Hooded Mergansers are small ducks with a thin bill and a fan-shaped, collapsible crest that makes the head look oversized and oblong. In flight, the wings are thin and the tail is relatively long and rounded.

What animal eats Common Merganser?

Large predatory fish such as northern pike, along with predatory birds such as bald and golden eagles, common loons, and some owls and hawks, may prey on more vulnerable, immature mergansers in the water.

What is the difference between a cormorant and a merganser?

Red-breasted Mergansers have a shorter tail, a shorter neck, and a longer bill than Neotropic Cormorants. They also have a red (not yellow) bill.

What does a female moorhen look like?

Female Common moorhens and other species from the Gallinula genus look the same as males. They have predominantly dark, black-olive, or black plumage with small white sections on their tails and flanks. Beaks are usually dark or deep-red with a yellow tip. Moorhens have red eyes and large yellow webbed feet.

What Does a female Towhee look like?

Females have brown head, throat, and back; white belly; rufous sides. In most of range, eye is dark.

Are Common Merganser and goosander the same bird?

Notes: - The Goosander or Common Merganser is a sea duck. It is an expert at diving for fish such as salmon and trout and has a sawbill to help grip the fish. This bird has become unpopular with anglers due to its efficiency in taking fish. Conservation status (IUCN 3.1):