Common Merganser

Description: The drake has a crest-free dark green head, white sides and belly, and a black back. The hen has a reddish-brown crested head with a white belly; the chest and sides are dark gray. Both hens and drakes have long slim necks, narrow red bills with teeth, and red feet. Drakes are larger than hens. Average size: 22-27 inches. Average weight: 2-4 ½ pounds.

Science: Mergansers breed in wooded areas near ponds and rivers across much of Canada and southern Alaska, as well as parts of the western United States and the Rocky Mountains. As they cope well with cold temperatures, they’re among the last birds to migrate. They form small groups of no more than a few dozen birds and winter across most of the United States and off the Pacific coast of Canada and Alaska, where they may be found on rivers, lakes, and coastal estuaries. They eat mostly small fish, though they have been spotted eating trout, salmon, and other game fish. They’re usually quiet. Their population is stable.

Hunting: Mergansers are mostly taken incidentally by hunters seeking other waterfowl, though they are occasionally sought as a collector’s trophy. Due to their diet, the eating quality is poor.