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page.Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
In Europe the red-breasted merganser is distributed over Iceland, Scotland, northwestern England, Scandinavia, Finland and Russia. In central Europe it breeds regularly along the coasts of Germany, Poland and Denmark and, in rare instances, Holland. It is also found in northern Asia, North America and Greenland. Outside the breeding season the bird spends most of its time at sea, being seen inland only on passage. In southern parts of its range, the red-breasted merganser is resident or a partial migrant; in northern parts, a full migrant. In early May, about two to three weeks before laying, the female begins seeking a suitable site for the nest. The male may accompany her, or he may wait on the water. Nests are built by females alone in dense clumps of grass or other vegetation, under bushes, among rocks, between the roots of trees, in holes in the ground, but always on dry land. The location is usually near water, but may be as much as 100 metres from its edge. The lining is of dry as well as green vegetation from the vicinity. At the end of May and in June, occasionally as late as July, the female lays five to 12 eggs which she incubates by herself for 28 to 32 days. On day two, the newly hatched young are taken out on to the water by their mother; they can fly at 59 days. Diet consists of small fish, molluscs, crustaceans, aquatic insects and worms.
Click on any of the other bird links, these are Geese Barnacle Goose : Brent Goose : Canada Goose : Greylag Goose
Or on the Ducks: Gadwall : Goldeneye : Goosander : Mallard : Pintail : Pochard : Red Breasted Merganser : Red Crested Pochard : Shellduck : Shoveler : Teal : Tufted Duck : Wigeon
And the rest, in no real order of importance: Common Sandpiper : Coot. : Corncrake : Curlew. : Dunlin : Greenshank : Lapwing : Moorhen : Oystercatcher : Redshank : Ringed Plover : Snipe : Spotted Crake : Stone Curlew : Turnstone : Whimbrel : Woodcock.
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