Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Description:

A large diving duck with a long thin bill, the Common Merganser is found along large lakes and rivers across the northern hemisphere. The long bill has toothy projections along its edges that help the duck hold onto its slippery fish prey.

Notes:

Watched as one of these mergansers dove, caught a fish, and tossed it into the air until it could swallow the head first. Also, watched as Herring Gull tried to steal fish from other mergansers nearby.