Photo: MPF / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Mergus
- Species merganser
Where it lives
Iceland, northern, central Europe, subarctic Russia through northeastern Kazakhstan and northeastern Afghanistan through Tibet and western China, northern Mongolia to Kamchatka, Hokkaido (northern Japan) and northeastern China; southwestern Alaska mainland through subarctic Canada to Newfoundland, south through western USA and to northern Great Lakes
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Merganser hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Common Merganser is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a species of ducks, geese, swans in the family Anatidae, order Anseriformes. It is found in North America, Europe & Northern Asia — Iceland, n, c Europe, subarctic Russia through ne Kazakhstan and ne Afghanistan through Tibet and w China, n Mongolia to Kamchatka, Hokkaido (n Japan) and ne China; sw Alaska mainland through subarctic Canada to Newfoundland, s through w USA and to n Great Lakes.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Merganser?
The Common Merganser is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Common Merganser live?
The Common Merganser is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL Iceland, n, c Europe, subarctic Russia through ne Kazakhstan and ne Afghanistan through Tibet and w China, n Mongolia to Kamchatka, Hokkaido (n Japan) and ne China; sw Alaska mainland through subarctic Canada to Newfoundland, s through w USA and to n Great Lakes, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Merganser belong to?
The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Common Merganser eat?
The Common Merganser hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Common Merganser migrate?
The Common Merganser is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Common Merganser endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Merganser make?
1 real field recording of the Common Merganser — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Merganser's range?
The Common Merganser has a mapped global range of about 24.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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