Red-breasted Merganser

Audio:

Fernand Deroussen ( www.xeno-canto.org )

The Red-breasted Merganser looks very much like its brother, the Common Merganser. The Red-breasted Merganser is a bit more colourful. It is a typical winter visitor, in summer you will hardly see it in western Europe.

Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mergus_serrator

Map:

http://eol.org/pages/1049002/maps

Scientific name:

Mergus serrator

Presence in western Europe:

Common

More information

Size:

Buzzard

Birdtype:

waterfowl

Main colour:

Light grey,

Light brown

Beak colour:

Red

Beak shape:

Fish eater

Crown colour:

Light brown

Breast colour:

Light grey

Belly colour:

White

Throat colour:

Light brown

Rump colour:

Light grey

Upperwing colour:

Light grey

Underwing colour:

White

Wing stripe colour:

White

Wing shape:

Pointed

Leg colour:

Red

Leg shape:

Webbed

Tail colour:

Light grey

Tail shape:

Square

Looks like

Common Merganser

Read more about Common Merganser

The female Common Merganser has a sharp division between brown and white on the neck. The Red-breasted Merganser has a vague division on the neck.

Smew

Read more about Smew

The female Red-breasted Merganser has a characteristic thin beak, a Smew has a duckbill. The head and neck of the Merganser are completely brown.