Red-breasted Merganser
(Mergus serrator) M |
 |
RANGE: Breeds from northern Alaska to central Keewatin, northern
Baffin Island, Labrador and Newfoundland south to the Aleutian
Islands, northern British Columbia, central Minnesota, northern
New York and Nova Scotia, casually south along the Atlantic
Coast to Long Island. Winters primarily along coasts and on
large inland bodies of water from southern Alaska, the Great
Lakes and Nova Scotia south to Baja California, southern Texas,
and the Gulf Coast.
STATUS: Common.
HABITAT: Prefers to breed on small islands or islets with low,
prostrate woody vegetation or other natural features to cover
the nest, and with open shores, gravel bars, or rocks to provide
roosting and preening areas for drakes and young. Although it
prefers inland waters, it may be found along the coasts on
shores and on marine islets. Winters mainly in estuaries and
sheltered bays, less frequently on inland freshwater.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Rivers, ponds, and lakes with some
overhead cover nearby for nesting.
NEST: Nests on the ground under low cover, generally within 33
feet of water, preferably on islands, but also on riverbanks and
lakeshores, in marshes, on rocky islets, or in bank recesses.
Nests may be under low conifer boughs; under or between boulders
in shallow cavities; in tall grass, heather, or bracken; or
under driftwood.
FOOD: Feeds primarily on fish caught during dives underwater.
Also eats fish eggs, frogs, annelids, nymphs, caddis flies,
amphipods, crabs, prawns, and mollusks.
REFERENCES: Bellrose 1976, Clapp et al. 1982, Johnsgard 1975b,
Miller 1999, Palmer 1976b. |
