Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Common mergansers are the largest of the three merganser species in North America; adults weigh 1,230 – 1,700 grams (2.7 – 3.7 lbs) and are 54 – 71 cm (21.2 – 27.9 in.) long. Males are somewhat larger than females. Adult males have an iridescent, greenish-black head, with white neck, under parts, and secondaries against black upper wings, gray back and tail. Unlike red-breasted mergansers, male common mergansers in breeding plumage have no crest on head. In late summer during molt, males resemble breeding females in overall coloration, except the male’s wing has a larger white patch and they develop a crest shorter than the female’s.
Sea Duck Information Series fact sheet
Common Merganser Species Knowledge Summary and Information Needs [PDF]
Common Merganser Tracking Data
The Sea Duck Joint Venture has invested in numerous projects employing satellite and radio tracking devices to address pressing management-related questions. These data have enabled researchers to discover migratory pathways, delineate populations, and describe habitat use and behavior. This catalog includes existing tracking datasets for Common Mergansers.
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SDJV Project 43 — Factors Involved in Population Dynamics and Delineation of North American Mergansers
Project Summary: The researchers implanted satellite transmitters into juvenile Common Mergansers during 2004 (1 transmitter deployed) and 2005 (7 transmitters deployed) to investigate post-fledging movements from their natal river in southcentral Alaska. All capture locations were in southcentral Alaska. This research was led by the U.S. Geological Survey alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Tracking Data: Data related to this project can be found at doi.org/10.5441/001/1.3gc013f3 and in Movebank (ID 157278223).
Related Publications: Project reports and publications are available on the SDJV Project 43 webpage.
Common Merganser Photo Gallery
