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Wildlife
- Birds - |
Common Merganser
(Mergus merganser) Y |
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RANGE: Breeds in North America from central and south-coastal
Alaska, northern Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland south to the
mountains of central California and northern New Mexico. East of
the Rockies, breeds south to southern Saskatchewan, central
Michigan, southern Maine, and west-central Nova Scotia. Winters
from the Aleutian Islands and south-coastal Alaska east across
southern Canada to Newfoundland and south to southern California
and the Gulf Coast from southern Texas to central Florida.
Winters as far north as open inland waters are available.
STATUS: Common throughout range.
HABITAT: Prefers to breed in ponds associated with upper
portions of rivers in forested regions, and clear, freshwater
lakes with forested shorelines. Is transcontinental in
character, but essentially confined to forested regions.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Clear, forested streams, rivers,
and lakes with tree cavities. Strongest nesting habitat
association along lake and pond shorelines and islands and
Western riverine woodland.
NEST: Generally nests in cavities in hollow trees near water,
but also in dark recesses, on the ground, or in nest boxes.
Height of tree cavity and species of tree are unimportant, but
the number of suitable cavities available is definitely limited.
May nest beneath boulders, in root tangles along undercut
streambanks, in crevices in cliffs, or in chimneys, as long as
the nest is concealed from above. One pair may use 2 to 3 miles
of river during nesting.
FOOD: An opportunistic forager, generally feeds in fairly
shallow waters from 1 1/2 to 6 feet deep. Consumes a wide
variety of fishes, primarily rough and forage fish, but may be
detrimental in areas specifically managed for trout or salmon
production. Also eats frogs, aquatic salamanders, crayfish,
shrimp, and other small crustaceans, snails and other mollusks,
leeches, worms, aquatic insects and their larvae, and the roots
and stems of aquatic plants.
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bellrose 1976, Johnsgard 1975b,
Palmer 1976b, Shunk 2004, Terres 1980, Timken and Anderson 1969. |
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