Page 119 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Mergus merganser
Goosander striped face
greyish body
large white
wing patch
dark brown
head
smooth, downward-
pointing crest JUVENILE
sharply defined
white throat
MALE (WINTER) dark collar
thick-based,
blue-grey body
hooked
plum-red bill
FEMALE green-black
head
salmon-pink to
white body
FEMALE
IN FLIGHT

long tail

MALE (WINTER)
he largest “sawbill”, with a long, serrated bill FLIGHT: often low, fast, and direct, with elongated
Tfor grasping fish, the Goosander is more of a but heavy shape.
freshwater bird than the Red-breasted Merganser,
especially outside the breeding season. It is found in
small groups in winter, often looking remarkably large
on small inland lakes and pits on still, misty days. In
summer, breeding pairs prefer upland reservoirs and
shallower, fast-flowing, clear streams with plenty of
boulders and stony shores. Usually a shy bird, the
Goosander is easily scared off even at long range.
VOICE Harsh karrr and cackling notes.
NESTING Hole in trees near water; 8–11 eggs;
1 brood;April–July. LAZY MALES
FEEDING Dives from surface, moving long distances In winter, male Goosanders swim about on open water, often drifting
underwater in larger lakes, to take fish. inactive for long periods. Males look like the females in summer.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds beside rivers and lakes in
RED-BREASTED Iceland, Scandinavia, and N Great
MERGANSER 32; blurred
3has dark breast; face Britain. Winters south to Balkans
see p.118 and France, mostly on fresh water.
Bigger flocks mostly in regular
sites on larger reservoirs, smaller
dark breast
numbers on pits or rivers.
MALLARD 3
2 similar to 32; Seen in the UK
see p.101 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 57–69cm (22 1 ⁄2 –27in) Wingspan 82–98cm (32–39in) Weight 1–1.6kg (2 1 ⁄4 –3 1 ⁄2lb)
Social Small flocks Lifespan Up to 8 years Status Secure
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