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;Mergus serrator | ;Mergus serrator | ||
[[Image:Red-breasted_Merganser.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by soenke]] | [[Image:Red-breasted_Merganser.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by soenke]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | |||
| + | 52-58 cm long with a 67-82 cm wingspan. Its bill is red, long and thin with serrated edges. Adult males have a dark head with a green sheen, a white neck with a rusty breast, a black back and white underparts. Adult females have a rusty head and a greyish body. Juveniles are like the female, but lack the white collar and have a smaller white wing patch. | ||
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| + | The call of the female is ''prak prrak''. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[North America]], [[Greenland]], [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Freshwater lakes and rivers. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | This is a diving duck. The diet is mainly small fish, aquatic insects and frogs. | ||
==Bird Song== | ==Bird Song== | ||
<flashmp3>Mergus serrator (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Mergus serrator (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
Revision as of 13:22, 24 September 2007
- Mergus serrator
Identification
52-58 cm long with a 67-82 cm wingspan. Its bill is red, long and thin with serrated edges. Adult males have a dark head with a green sheen, a white neck with a rusty breast, a black back and white underparts. Adult females have a rusty head and a greyish body. Juveniles are like the female, but lack the white collar and have a smaller white wing patch.
The call of the female is prak prrak.
Distribution
North America, Greenland, Europe and Asia.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Freshwater lakes and rivers.
Behaviour
This is a diving duck. The diet is mainly small fish, aquatic insects and frogs.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Mergus serrator (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
