A migrant from the north, the Common Merganser finds themselves paradise in the frigid open waters of Lake Michigan. Preferring to be farther away from the shore than the other ducks, the Common Merganser dives frequently into the water in search of fish and molluscs, capturing its prey with its saw like beak.
Easily mistaken for its close relative, the Red Breasted Merganser, the male Common has a green head with a scarlet bill with a CREAMY white belly and undersides and a black back. The male Red Breasted has a spiky crest on the back of its head. The females, however, are a little more difficult to decipher. Both female of the species of mergansers sport a shaggy red crest and a slate grey back , BUT the female Common has a white chin strap while the Red Breasted lack it.
During migration, I've seen literally hundreds of both kinds flying in the distance over the lake, using a friend's scope that is... There are times they will get close to the shores to feed.
The top picture of the male was taken at the Pugh Marina on 2/14/2013 and the female on the bottom was taken at the same place on the 1/3/2013. The seem to hang around the marina quite a bit....
Meandering with the Merganzers again, are we?
ReplyDeleteYou can have your Common Mergansers. I prefer the uncommon ones.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the photos and info, drew.
quack quack
ReplyDeleteNow Orbie, I prefer the common Mergansers, they are much less maintainance