AnatidaeMergus

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

52–58 cmLarge
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
Has a crest

Winter visitor. Mainly Pakistan, also India and Nepal. Male has spiky crest, white collar, ginger breast. and grey flanks. Female. and ecl ipse/immature male. more closely resemble respective plumages of Goosander and are best told by slimmer appearance, with slimmer bill. and narrower head with weaker and more ragged crest. Chestnut of head and upper neck is duller and contrasts less with grey lower neck and breast. throat is only slightly paler, and has browner body. in flight. white wing patch is broken by black bar. unlike on Common. Habits are similar to Goosander. Coastal waters in Pakistan; large rivers and lakes.

Colour

WhiteGreyChestnutBlack
Average size
55 cm
Habitat
Coastal waters in Pakistan, large rivers and lakes.
Behaviour
Winter visitor., Habits are similar to Goosander.

About this bird

Winter visitor. Mainly Pakistan, also India and Nepal. Male has spiky crest, white collar, ginger breast. and grey flanks. Female. and ecl ipse/immature male. more closely resemble respective plumages of Goosander and are best told by slimmer appearance, with slimmer bill. and narrower head with weaker and more ragged crest. Chestnut of head and upper neck is duller and contrasts less with grey lower neck and breast. throat is only slightly paler, and has browner body. in flight. white wing patch is broken by black bar. unlike on Common. Habits are similar to Goosander. Coastal waters in Pakistan; large rivers and lakes.

Compare size with other birds

Every bird sits between two neighbours — bigger than one, smaller than the other. The sentences below are generated live from the database.

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Red-breasted Merganser is bigger than Brown-necked Raven but smaller than Northern Goshawk.