Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

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Brief #

Male has a dark head with a green sheen, a white neck with a rusty breast, a black back.

Synonyms #

  • Serreta mediana (Spanish)
  • Mergo cristado (Galician)

Red List Status #

The Red-breasted Merganser is unlikely to become extinct in the near future.
Find out more about IUCN's Red List program here

Description #

It has a spiky crest and long thin red bill with serrated edges. The male has a dark head with a green sheen, a white neck with a rusty breast, a black back, and white underparts. Adult females have a rusty head and a grayish body. Juveniles look similar to females, but lack the white collar and have smaller white wing patches.

Measurements #

Length: 52 - 58 cm
Wingspan: 70 - 86 cm
Weight: 0.9 - 1.35 kg

Similar species #