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Mergus merganser
This bird has a crest of longer head feathers, but these usually lie smoothly rounded behind the head, not normally forming an erect crest. Adult males in breeding plumage are easily distinguished, the body white with a variable salmon-pink tinge, the head black with an iridescent green gloss, the rump and tail grey, and the wings largely white on the inner half, black on the outer half. Females, and males in "eclipse" (non-breeding plumage, July to October) are largely grey, with a reddish-brown head, white chin, and white secondary feathers on the wing. Juveniles (both sexes) are similar to adult females but also show a short black-edged white stripe between the eye and bill. The bill and legs are red to brownish-red, brightest on adult males, dullest on juveniles. These ducks have serrated edges to their bills to help them grip their prey; they are therefore often known as "sawbills". In addition to fish, they take a wide range of other aquatic prey, such as molluscs, crustaceans, worms, insect larvae, and amphibians; more rarely, they eat small mammals and birds.
The species is a partial migrant, with birds moving away from areas where rivers and major lakes freeze in the winter, but resident where waters remain open. They are found in Europe, northern and central Asia, and North America.
Seen at Lake Geneva
8 Comments
No worries:-)
Oh, that is nice to know. I have a bird that I haven't been able to ID; when I get that ready, I will ask your assistance, if I may.
I live on a mountain above Montreux. I am not there at the moment but I left early March we still had snow. I hope it will be spring when I return! When I am at home I conduct a duck survey on the lake shore at the week-end:-)
Thank you. I will try it with the others. I didn't see anything of Montreux except the place where I attended a meeting and then the lake shore in front of it in the early mornings and evenings but I greatly enjoyed the chance to see the birds there!
OK: Click on Edit this spotting, zoom onto the map using the + sign, click and hold on the pin and drag it to the exact area of spotting. I just did it for you for this one. I know it is a small distance, but a drastic change in habitat in that case. Sorry to be fussy about this one, but this happens to be my home. I hope you liked it!
Thanks! I don't know how to move the pin, Daniele. This was on the shore in Montreux, so I typed in Montreux.
Beautiful series Nopayahnah! You may want to move the pin for your Lake Geneva spottings as it currently shows a mountain area and not the lake shore.
Nice series of pics!