Goosander
The Goosander (or Common Merganser in north America) is a large “sawbill” duck, so called because of its long, serrated bill which is used for catching fish.
The Goosander is 23 to 28 inches long with a 31 to 38 inches wingspan and the male is generally slightly larger than the female. The adult male in breeding plumage has a white body with a variable salmon-pink tinge, a black head with an iridescent green gloss, a grey rump and tail and wings which are largely white on the inner half and black on the outer half. Females, and males in "eclipse" non-breeding plumage, are largely grey with a reddish-brown head, white chin and white secondary feathers on the wing. Juveniles are similar to adult females but also show a short black-edged white stripe between the eye and the bill. The bill and legs are red to brownish-red which are brightest on adult males and dullest on juveniles.
The Goosander can be found on rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, north and central Asia and north America. It is a partial migrant and moves away from areas where rivers and major lakes freeze in the winter but it is a resident where waters remain open. Within Europe, a marked southward spread has occurred from Scandinavia in the breeding range since about 1850, colonising Scotland in 1871 and England in 1941. Since 1970 it has spread across northern England and in to Wales and south west England. In the UK, it can be found all year round in the breeding range but only in winter on lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs across England south of the Humber.
Nesting normally occurs in a tree cavity so the Goosander requires mature forest as its breeding habitat. It will also readily use large nest boxes where provided. In places where trees are absent, it will use holes in cliffs and steep, high banks, sometimes at considerable distances from water. The female lays 6 to 17 eggs, but normally 8 to 12, and raises a single brood in a season. The ducklings are taken by the female in her bill to rivers or lakes immediately after hatching where they feed on freshwater invertebrates and small fish fry, fledging when 60 to 70 days old.
The Goosander primarily feeds on fish with the serrated edge to its bill helping it to grip its prey. In addition to fish, it will take a wide range of other aquatic prey such as molluscs, crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and amphibians and, more rarely, small mammals and birds. The salmon-pink tinge shown variably by males is probably diet-related and obtained from the carotenoid pigments present in some crustaceans and fish. When feeding, the Goosander will float down a stream or river for a few miles and either fly back again or more commonly fish their way back, diving incessantly the whole way. It will often fish in a group, forming a semicircle and driving the fish into shallow water where they are captured easily. When floating leisurely, it will position itself in the water similar to ducks but it will also swim deep in the water like a Cormorant. When not diving for food, it is usually seen swimming on the water surface, resting on rocks in midstream or hidden among riverbank vegetation or (in winter) resting on the edge of floating ice.
Date: 23rd December 2019
Location: Abberton Reservoir, Essex
The Goosander is 23 to 28 inches long with a 31 to 38 inches wingspan and the male is generally slightly larger than the female. The adult male in breeding plumage has a white body with a variable salmon-pink tinge, a black head with an iridescent green gloss, a grey rump and tail and wings which are largely white on the inner half and black on the outer half. Females, and males in "eclipse" non-breeding plumage, are largely grey with a reddish-brown head, white chin and white secondary feathers on the wing. Juveniles are similar to adult females but also show a short black-edged white stripe between the eye and the bill. The bill and legs are red to brownish-red which are brightest on adult males and dullest on juveniles.
The Goosander can be found on rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, north and central Asia and north America. It is a partial migrant and moves away from areas where rivers and major lakes freeze in the winter but it is a resident where waters remain open. Within Europe, a marked southward spread has occurred from Scandinavia in the breeding range since about 1850, colonising Scotland in 1871 and England in 1941. Since 1970 it has spread across northern England and in to Wales and south west England. In the UK, it can be found all year round in the breeding range but only in winter on lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs across England south of the Humber.
Nesting normally occurs in a tree cavity so the Goosander requires mature forest as its breeding habitat. It will also readily use large nest boxes where provided. In places where trees are absent, it will use holes in cliffs and steep, high banks, sometimes at considerable distances from water. The female lays 6 to 17 eggs, but normally 8 to 12, and raises a single brood in a season. The ducklings are taken by the female in her bill to rivers or lakes immediately after hatching where they feed on freshwater invertebrates and small fish fry, fledging when 60 to 70 days old.
The Goosander primarily feeds on fish with the serrated edge to its bill helping it to grip its prey. In addition to fish, it will take a wide range of other aquatic prey such as molluscs, crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and amphibians and, more rarely, small mammals and birds. The salmon-pink tinge shown variably by males is probably diet-related and obtained from the carotenoid pigments present in some crustaceans and fish. When feeding, the Goosander will float down a stream or river for a few miles and either fly back again or more commonly fish their way back, diving incessantly the whole way. It will often fish in a group, forming a semicircle and driving the fish into shallow water where they are captured easily. When floating leisurely, it will position itself in the water similar to ducks but it will also swim deep in the water like a Cormorant. When not diving for food, it is usually seen swimming on the water surface, resting on rocks in midstream or hidden among riverbank vegetation or (in winter) resting on the edge of floating ice.
Date: 23rd December 2019
Location: Abberton Reservoir, Essex
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