Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

51-66 cm (20-26") Common. Nests on lakes, rivers; winters along coastal waters, preferring salt waters. Fish-eating diving duck. Long pointed red bill is thin at base giving the forehead a more vertical appearance than similar Common Merganser.

Male: shaggy crested green-black head; white collar; brownish breast; gray sides; black back.

Female: shaggy crested reddish-brown head, paler than Common Merganser's and blending into white breast; gray sides.

In flight, bill, head, neck, and body all held horizontally; male has much white on upper wing.

Song: croaks.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Kevin Lin

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Chuq Von Rospach

Credit: Laura Gooch

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

displaying red-breasted mergansers

Credit: Bob Ford

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Red-breasted Merganser (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 6

What colour was the SIDE ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:794-red-breasted-merganser-female:1:1 Source: 794 Red-breasted Merganser (Female), row 1

Red-breasted Merganser (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 6

What colour was the SIDE ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:793-red-breasted-merganser-male:1:1 Source: 793 Red-breasted Merganser (Male), row 1