The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a duck that occupies rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, northern and central Palearctic, and North America. They are distinguished by a crest of longer head feathers. Adult males have a white body with a tinge of salmon pink and a gray rump and tail; the head is black with an iridescent green gloss, and the wings are white on the inner half and black on the outer half. Females are mostly gray with a reddish-brown head, white chin, and white secondary feathers on the wing. They eat fish and a wide range of aquatic prey and amphibians.
The Common Merganser has a wingspan in the range of 34”-38” (86-97 cm) and total weight of 2-4.6 lb (.9-2.1 kg). The body of the Common Merganser has an overall length between 22”-28” (56-71 cm), body width of 6.3”-7.5” (16-19 cm), and standing height of roughly 11.4”-14.6” (29-37 cm). The typical lifespan of the Common Merganser is between 11-15 years.
The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a duck that occupies rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, northern and central Palearctic, and North America. They are distinguished by a crest of longer head feathers. Adult males have a white body with a tinge of salmon pink and a gray rump and tail; the head is black with an iridescent green gloss, and the wings are white on the inner half and black on the outer half. Females are mostly gray with a reddish-brown head, white chin, and white secondary feathers on the wing. They eat fish and a wide range of aquatic prey and amphibians.
The Common Merganser has a wingspan in the range of 34”-38” (86-97 cm) and total weight of 2-4.6 lb (.9-2.1 kg). The body of the Common Merganser has an overall length between 22”-28” (56-71 cm), body width of 6.3”-7.5” (16-19 cm), and standing height of roughly 11.4”-14.6” (29-37 cm). The typical lifespan of the Common Merganser is between 11-15 years.
