Common Merganser -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 25 inches | Wingspan: 35 inches | Seasonality: Migrant/Winter |
| ID Keys: White body with dark blackish-green head, black back. Female gray with rusty head. | ||
Common
Merganser
Mergus merganser
A common migrant, and common winter resident along larger river systems. An expert diving fish-eater.
Habitat: Larger lakes and rivers.
Diet: Mostly fish. Also crustaceans, amphibians, aquatic insects, and occasionally aquatic plants.
Nesting: Early Spring (rare breeder in South Dakota)
Breeding: Breeding Bird Survey Map
Song: Common Merganser Call
Migrations: Summers in Canada and extreme northern U.S., winters throughout much of the United States interior and coastlines.
Similar Species: Red-Breasted Merganser
Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Common Merganser
2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Common Merganser"
3) E-nature.com: Common Merganser
Photo Information:
March 20th, 2005 -- Wall Lake in western Minnehaha County -- Terry Sohl
Additional Photos: Click here for additional higher-resolution photos of this species.
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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08