Overview
The common merganser (Mergus merganser) is a duck found across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Known in Eurasia as the goosander. It’s one of the most striking and powerful diving ducks-sleek, fast, and built for life on clear rivers and deep lakes.
The common merganser is a big, streamlined duck with a long, thin red bill designed for catching fish. It nests in tree cavities, often far from water, and ducklings famously leap from the nest within a day of hatching.
Distribution & Habitat
North America: Found year‑round in the Pacific Northwest and parts of the Northeast; elsewhere mostly a winter or migration visitor.
Europe & Asia: Widespread across northern regions; known as the goosander.
They prefer to live near Clear rivers, large lakes, and reservoirs: Forested regions with suitable nesting cavities, and Winters as far north as open water allows.
Identification
Adult Male
Mostly white body with a green‑black head
Black back, white inner wings
Long, narrow red bill
Sleek, powerful profile
Adult Female
Gray body, rusty‑brown head with a ragged crest
Sharp white chin patch
Clean border between head and breast
Size
Length: 58–72 cm (23–28 in),
Wingspan: 78–97 cm (31–38 in),
Weight: 0.9–2.1 kg (2–4.6 lb)
Diet/Foraging
Primarily fish, which they catch by diving and pursuing underwater. Also eat worms, frogs, and occasionally small birds. Can stay submerged for up to two minutes, though most dives are shorter.
Breeding & Nesting
Cavity nesters: use natural tree holes or old woodpecker cavities; Will also use nest boxes. Females may lay eggs in other ducks’ nests (brood parasitism). Ducklings leap from the nest one day after hatching.
Migration
Migrates in small groups. Males tend to winter farther north than females and juveniles. Migration is late fall and early spring.
