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Field Guide for all the Birds of North America

Mergansers

Harles

Anatidae

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities

The mergansers are also known as "Fish Ducks" and fish is their main diet. There are three types of these birds in North America. The Common Merganser, as the name indicates, is the most abundant and whose habitat covers the largest portions of the continent. The Red-breasted Merganser nests in the northern regions, but is more likely to spend its winter on the coast, living in saltwater. The smallest of the group is the Hooded Merganser and can be found across the southern regions of Canada, throughout the US central plains to the eastern shorelines.

The mergansers are equipped to catch fish. Their bills are long and slender with serrated edges, formed like teeth for grasping and holding their prey. They are among the diving ducks that swim below the surface hunting their prey. The Smew is a member of the merganser family and this vagrant is seen visiting North America from time to time.

Click on the bird images or names to see pictures of the Mergansers seen in North America

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Smew

References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.

Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB