Red-breasted Merganser — Length: 23 inches, Wing span: 30 inches
Females have a rusty-brown head and grayish-brown upperparts. Reddish bill. Ragged crest. Photograph by Greg Lavaty.
Red-breasted Mergansers eat fish. The serrations on the bill, just visible in this photograph, aid in capturing slippery prey. Photograph by Tom Grey.
Females, juveniles and males in non-breeding plumage are very similar in appearnce. The white in the wing is not always visible. Photograph by Tom Grey.
Note the large amount of white on the inner third of the wing. Photograph by Greg Lavaty.
Female in flight. Note the females lack the white collar that is present on the neck of males. The crest may not be visible. Photograph by Greg Lavaty.
Males in flight. Photograph by Greg Lavaty.
Even at a distance the long, pointed bill and head, white collar and white markings on pointed wings are easy to discern. Photograph by Greg Lavaty.
Females on take off. The legs are well back on the body, great for swimming but not great for walking, although they are used in the running start required to get the mergansers air born. Photograph by Tom Grey.
Female and male in flight. Photograph by Tom Grey.