Red-breasted merganser (female)

Description:

Females have a brownish head with a shaggy crest. The color on the neck blends gradually into the chest without distinct white patches.

Habitat:

Spotted at Gulf State Park east. Breeds in the boreal forest on fresh, brackish, and saltwater wetlands, typically close to the coast. During migration and on the wintering grounds, uses marine waters, lakes, and rivers. They tend to use saltwater, including estuaries and bays, more often than Common Merganser.