>> GENERAL >>>>>
– medium-sized anatid, about size of Mallard but slimmer
– diurnal migrant, probably also nocturnal
– migrates pairwise or in small to medium flocks in formation
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, AD M
BIF1966, 01/02/2017, Darss, Germany, Martin Grimm
– slim silhouette with long neck and thin bill
– white inner wing with two thin black lines, broad black leading edge and black hand -> Goosander (BIF 1630)
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, AD M
BIF1967, 01/02/2017, Darss, Germany, Martin Grimm
– red bill slightly upcurved without hook
– flanks greyish (upper flank black with white patches)
– feet almost reach tail tip -> Goosander (BIF 1631)
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, AD M
BIF2893, 30/03/2018, Rerik, Germany, Roland Neumann
– black head
– distinct white collar and dark streaked redish-brown upper breast
– white underwing (black in Common Goldeneye) with translucent secondaries
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, AD M F
BIF2894, 30/03/2018, Rerik, Germany, Roland Neumann
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, F AD (two left), M AD, M 2CY (right)
BIF1972, 15/03/2017, Kühlungsborn, Roland Neumann
– M 2CY head black-brown patterned, upper flanks darker than F
– upperwing pattern of 2CY M same as F with fine black line in white wing patch (usually missing in F -> Goosander)
– no contrast between hand and arm
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, F AD (two left), M AD, M 2CY (right)
BIF1971, 15/03/2017, Kühlungsborn, Roland Neumann
same as BIF1972
– brown head of F diffusely merging into grey neck (sharp contrast in F -> Goosander)
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, 5 M AD
BIF1973, 15/03/2017, Kühlungsborn, Roland Neumann
– at greater distance the white collar is the most striking feature
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, 5 M ECLIPSED
BIF1638, 23/09/2010, Baltic Sea, Germany, Mathias Putze
– like F but diagnostic M wing pattern (compare BIF1966)
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
calls during migration not yet sound recorded
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Goosander (v)
Common Goldeneye (v)
Common Shelduck (v)
Common Eider (v)
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