Red-breasted Merganser? Iceland, 30 July 2021 (1 Viewer)

[howiewu]

Hi,

While going through my pictures from the West Fjords, Iceland in July of last year, I noticed this sea bird. The exact time and location is Seal Lookout in Ísafjarðardjúp, West Fjords, Iceland and 30th of July, 2021. The bird was swimming off shore. Unfortunately the bird was very far and I only got a few pixels of images.

My thinking was Red-breasted Merganser, but something does not look right -- its bill does not look thin or flat enough (but again, that may be due to the poor resolution of the image).

Can we make much of it?

Thanks in advance,
Howard

 

[Butty]

Juvenile - either goosander or red-breasted merganser. If you have other photos (including bad or worse ones) it may help.

 

[KC Foggin]

I'm leaning towards a Red-breasted Merganser.

 

[THE_FERN]

Suggest goosander. String white chin and face streak, crest not very spiky.

 

[howiewu]

Thanks, guys, I reckon it's a goosander / Common Merganser.