skip to main content

Red-Breasted Merganser??

17 years ago

At least that is what I think these are, never saw one before. When I saw them on the pond during my walk I knew they were no ordinary duck and I thought merganser as I have seen them in the birdbook before but I wasn't sure. I was quite a ways from them and the afternoon sun was quite strong today, these are the best two shots I got of them. I am thinking they are all females but noticed the one in the middle has much more black around the eye. Anyone know anything about mergansers? I am assuming they stopped by here in WI on their way to their breeding grounds up north.

Donna

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
Wow..great photos! They look like juvenile Common Mergansers
dzyg
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Rachel, I was told from someone that lives in Florida where they Winter that they were the female redbreasted mergansers. Not sure what the juvenlies look like but the common ones don't have white in the front of the neck like these do, the rusty color goes all the way around to the front. Also wouldn't the juveniles have their adult colors by now? I am not familiar with when the duck family changes to their adult colors but I would think if they were heading north to their breeding grounds that they would have their adult plumage. I totally could be wrong about that though. =)

Donna
Related Discussions
Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 14 - 17, 2014
Q
Comments (5)
I counted in various places yesterday and photographed some nice birds in the local marsh, but one of the great things about the GBBC is that you can check on the whereabouts of a bird that's a harbinger of spring. Red-winged Blackbirds were seen in the hundreds in southeastern Massachusetts and there are reports in CT and RI. I myself saw a Brown-headed Cowbird this morning which is a bird that migrates early, usually with the grackles, close behind the red-wings. Spring is closer! Birds in the marsh: Great Blue Heron Green-winged Teal Red-breasted Merganser Buffleheads and a Canada Goose (one of many many Canada Geese) Claire
...See More
Great Backyard Bird Count starts Friday
Q
Comments (3)
As of mid-day Monday the 16th: Statistics from 2009 Total Checklists Submitted: 40,226 Total Species Observed: 560 Total Individual Birds Counted: 4,562,363 Updated: February 16, 2009 11:55:10 AM EST Today is the last day of the count, but data will continue to pour in for a few weeks as people get around to processing their counts. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Besides counting birds at my feeders, I've been out visiting the local salt marsh and other neighborhood bird haunts. I also went down to the Cape Cod Canal to see what was floating and feeding in the canal. There were several Red-breasted Mergansers swimming and diving in the water - a very jaunty looking bird with a huge cowlick on the back of the head. Also a few Common Eiders, the males looking almost like they were spread with marshmallow Fluff. Walking in the neighborhood I ran into the local flock of Helmeted Guineafowl feeding in someone's yard. I wrestled with the idea of trying to submit the count to GBBC, but decided it wouldn't be legitimate. The guineafowl range freely during the day, but I'm sure they're brought into a barn at night. Too many predators around. Claire
...See More
Project FeederWatch #3 2009/2010
Q
Comments (21)
Early this morning the sun was bright (finally) and glinted off the Common Grackles at the feeders. Lots of grackles now. I may not have glamorous birds but they certainly are shiny. The top grackle looked like it thought it was King of the World. For all I know, maybe it is. The grackles on the ground were shiny too. I like to have the grackles here because they eat defoliating caterpillars (other birds do too) - flying pesticides. ----------------------------------------------------- I've been having an argument with a chickadee, or maybe several chickadees. Their "dee-dee-dee" call supposedly warns against predators, with the number of "dee's" corresponding to the level of danger. Yesterday and today I heard a "dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee" call when I went out to fill the feeders. I find this enormously insulting since I'm feeding the little brutes, so I'm trying to call back a short "dee-dee" every time I hear the long "dee" call. It seems to be working, or maybe they're just amused, because the string of "dees" is getting shorter. Claire (who really needs some spring)
...See More
Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 17-20, 2012
Q
Comments (8)
Oh, lisa11310, that's exasperating! I had my usual feeder birds plus turkeys, with a surprise appearance of two Common Grackles and a Northern Mockingbird on Friday. They must have been migrating through because I haven't seen them since. I submitted those feeder counts but also made a few forays to local watery spots to see what was around. This is the fifth year in a row I've reported Green-winged Teal in the Ellisville Harbor State Park. It's near the upper limit of their winter range and I've learned where and when to find them slurping mud on the mudflats. Eighteen teal this year. My other main project was seeing if I could find a large flock of Common Eiders that might be floating with the current on the Cape Cod Canal. On my second stop along the Canal (at the Rail Road Bridge) I found a few Common Eiders, Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Loons. Common Eiders Red-breasted Merganser Common Loon I hit the jackpot on my third stop at the Mass Maritime Academy where there were around 250 Common Eiders floating around. There may have been a few other species of birds in there but I didn't see any. I couldn't really photograph the scene but I tried. Believe me, there were a lot of Common Eiders there - maybe that's why they're named "common". Today is my usual Project FeederWatch count so I'll submit those counts to GBBC too. I'm still hoping for the first Red-winged Blackbirds to arrive, but time is running out. Claire
...See More
rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
Juvenile colors are supposedly only seen from Aug-Sept, but that's what they look like to me with their white chins, lores, and dark eye areas
feather_z9_ncacoast
17 years ago
They're Red-breasted and you have a near-adult male on the center left, with two females.
rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
Well, Feather would be more likely to know, as I've never seen them like that
dzyg
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks feather for the positive id! I thought the one looked a bit different from the other two with more black around the eye. They sure are cool looking birds! They are gone now of course but I am sure glad they stopped here for a rest.

Donna
feather_z9_ncacoast
17 years ago
I miss my canoe days when we'd see the Red-breasted and Common's on the rivers here. . .I have a shot somewhere, of a smallish group of them at Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe a couple years ago.....but those were Common Mergansers. In Nevada we'd see a lot of Hooded's. . .but there's no way to mistaken one of those for either of the other two. . .;)

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Northern Cardinals in the Snow, and Other Red Birds

By Habitat Network

Brilliant crimson feathers make these friends stand out in a crowd

COLOR Pretty Pink Color Schemes, Subtle to Sensational

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

How do we love pink? Let us count the ways: soft, sassy, with chartreuse and electric blue and, yes, even red ...

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Houzz Tour: Contemporary Oregon Home Connects With Life on the River

By Becky Harris

Architects carefully nestle this home within its narrow waterfront site, while paying attention to details and materials inside

EVENTS Whimsy, Color and Pattern Are Highlights of the 2015 Holiday House NYC

By Rikki Snyder

Step inside birthday-party-inspired playrooms and frosting-like spaces in this year's decorators' show house

EVENTS A Celebration of Design at Holiday House NYC 2014

By Rikki Snyder

The New York City fundraiser, open through December 21, showcases holiday-themed rooms by 23 designers

HOLIDAY HOME TOURS Brave Decorating Ideas From the NYC Holiday House

By Rikki Snyder

A good cause and daring design go hand in hand at a Manhattan mansion, with plenty of inspiration for all

DECORATING GUIDES Over-the-Top Sophistication in a Holiday Show House

Decadently designed rooms for all seasons and purposes create showstopping displays in a Manhattan mansion

COLOR 10 Great Places for Rich Fall Colors Year-Round

By Jennifer Ott Design

Use nature’s burgundies, golds and oranges in these select spots for a comforting feel no matter what the season

MOST POPULAR Heads-Up Hues: 10 Bold Ceiling Colors

By Jennifer Ott Design

Visually raise or lower a ceiling, or just add an eyeful of interest, with paint from splashy to soothing

SUMMER GARDENING How to Grow Basil

By Marianne Lipanovich

Bright color, quick growth and endless uses for cooking make this summer annual a winner in the garden or a pot

Sponsored

More Discussions

ID OWL IN S.E. MICHIGAN z5b

0