Red Breasted Merganser
Species Information
Mykola Swarnyk [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Statistics
Scientific name: Mergus serrator
Length:Â 50-60cm
Wingspan:Â 78cm
Weight:Â 1.1kg
Average lifespan:Â 9 yearsÂ
Conservation status
Classified in the UK as Green under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: The Red List for Birds (2015).
When to see
July to March
About
The red-breasted merganser is a medium-sized duck and a member of a group called the ‘sawbills’ because of their long, narrow bills with saw-like ‘teeth’ which are good for gripping fish. A long, streamlined bird, it is perfectly shaped for swimming after fish. Red-breasted mergansers are gregarious birds, forming flocks of hundreds in winter.
How to identify
The red-breasted merganser is a white diving duck. It can be distinguished from the goosander by its thinner bill, grey sides, reddish-brown breast and crest of green feathers on its head.Â
Did you know ?
Red-breasted mergansers nest on lakes and rivers in the north and west of the UK. They are a common winter visitor to coastal waters.
How you can help?
Did you know you can help wildlife in your local river ? You can do this in many ways from reporting pollution to SEPA, by not flushing wet wipes down the toilet and even at one of our many conservation volunteer days. Check out our Get Involved page for more information on how you can get involved with your local river.