Copyright: monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes • March 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Red Breasted Merganser
Latin: Mergus serrator
Other: Harle huppé (Fr) • Mittelsäger (De) • Serreta mediana (Es) • Длинноносый крохаль (Ru) • Småskrake (Sw)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks, Mergansers
Range: Iceland, Northern Eurasia and America, winters on coasts of China, US, Europe
Similar: Common Merganser

This is the second consecutive year I have seen Red-breasted Mergansers fishing in exactly the same spot in March in the sea off the coast near Cannes.

This area is not marked on the Collins distribution map, but Red-breasted Mergansers are known to winter further east and west on the Mediterranean coast, before flying north to their summer breeding grounds.

Females, juveniles and eclipses can be identified by their thin red bill, striped face, short punky haircut, diffuse neck line, and black line running through white speculum on open wing (see below), the latter differentiating them from Goosanders in flight.

Above juveniles or females. Below, an adult male Red Breasted Merganser, with red irises, dark head, white collar, and dark wings with white patch with black lines.

Below, a male Red-breasted Mergansers off the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, in May.
More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Geneva, Switzerland • June • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Common Merganser
Latin: Mergus merganser
Other: Goosander (UK) • Harle Bièvre, Grand Harle (Fr) • Gänsesäger (De) • Smergo comune (It)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks, Mergansers
Range: Widespread North America, Eurasia
SImilar: Red-breasted Merganser

The Goosander, or Common Merganser, is found in northern parts of the world - its reach does not extend down to the Côte d'Azur, however. These Goosanders were photographed by Lake Geneva.

The male, above, has dark upperparts, and light underparts. Females and juveniles have reddish heads and greyish bodies. Juveniles have a white line below the eye.

More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Nice, France • May June 09 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Hooded Merganser
Latin: Mergus cucullatus
Other:
Family: Anatidae • Mergansers • Ducks

Although native to North America, these Hooded Mergansers are from a park in Nice, presumably captive, though there are many escapes.More photos...

014 Family: Anatidae • Swans, Ducks, Geese, Shelducks, Mergansers, Eiders, Whistling Ducks, Teals, - IOC 2.5 - 2010

Dendrocygna viduata - White-faced Whistling Duck - Widespread Africa, South America
Dendrocygna autumnalis - Black-bellied Whistling Duck - SE Texas to N Argentina
Dendrocygna guttata - Spotted Whistling Duck - Philippines to New Guinea
Dendrocygna arborea - West Indian Whistling Duck - West Indies
Dendrocygna bicolor - Fulvous Whistling Duck - Widespread North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia
Dendrocygna eytoni - Plumed Whistling Duck - Australia
Dendrocygna arcuata - Wandering Whistling Duck - Philippines to Australia
Dendrocygna javanica - Lesser Whistling Duck - Widespread Asia

Thalassornis leuconotus - White-backed Duck - Widespread Africa

Cereopsis novaehollandiae - Cape Barren Goose - S Australia

Anser cygnoides - Swan Goose - E Eurasia - SE China
Anser fabalis - Taiga Bean Goose - N Eurasia - SE China, C Europe - Anser fabalis new name
Anser serrirostris - Tundra Bean Goose - N Eurasia - Anser serrirostris now split from A. fabalis
Anser brachyrhynchus - Pink-footed Goose - NW Eurasia
Anser anser - Greylag Goose - C, W Eurasia - N Asia
Anser albifrons - Greater White-fronted Goose - Widespread North America, Middle America, Eurasia
Anser erythropus - Lesser White-fronted Goose - N Eurasia - SE Europe, E China
Anser indicus - Bar-headed Goose - C Eurasia - N India

Chen caerulescens - Snow Goose - N North America - S, W South America, N Mexico
Chen rossii - Ross's Goose - N North America - S, W South America, N Mexico
Chen canagica - Emperor Goose - W Alaska, NE Siberia

Branta canadensis - Canada Goose - Widespread North America
Branta hutchinsii - Cackling Goose - C Canada - Texas, N Mexico
Branta sandvicensis - Nene - Hawaiian Islands
Branta bernicla - Brant Goose - Widespread North America, Eurasia
Branta leucopsis - Barnacle Goose - NW Eurasia
Branta ruficollis - Red-breasted Goose - N Eurasia - SE Europe

Coscoroba coscoroba - Coscoroba Swan - Southern Cone

Cygnus atratus - Black Swan - Australia, New Zealand
Cygnus melancoryphus - Black-necked Swan - Southern Cone - Was Cygnus melanocoryphus
Cygnus olor - Mute Swan - Europe to C Asia - N Africa, India
Cygnus buccinator - Trumpeter Swan - NW North America - C North America
Cygnus columbianus - Tundra Swan - N Eurasia, North America - S EU, S, C North America
Cygnus cygnus - Whooper Swan - N Eurasia - W Europe, E China

Stictonetta naevosa - Freckled Duck - SE, SW Australia

Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos - Blue Duck - New Zealand

Tachyeres patachonicus - Flying Steamer Duck - S South America
Tachyeres pteneres - Fuegian Steamer Duck - S South America
Tachyeres brachypterus - Falkland Steamer Duck - Falkland Islands
Tachyeres leucocephalus - Chubut Steamer Duck - SE Argentina

Merganetta armata - Torrent Duck - Venezuela to C Chile & W Argentina

Plectropterus gambensis - Spur-winged Goose - Widespread Africa

Sarkidiornis sylvicola - Comb Duck - Widespread South America
Sarkidiornis melanotos - Knob-billed Duck - Widespread Africa, Asia

Cyanochen cyanoptera - Blue-winged Goose - NE Africa

Alopochen aegyptiaca - Egyptian Goose - Widespread Africa

Neochen jubata - Orinoco Goose - Amazonia

Chloephaga melanoptera - Andean Goose - Peru to S Chile & Argentina
Chloephaga picta - Upland Goose - Southern Cone
Chloephaga hybrida - Kelp Goose - S South America
Chloephaga poliocephala - Ashy-headed Goose - Southern Cone
Chloephaga rubidiceps - Ruddy-headed Goose - S South America

Tadorna tadorna - Common Shelduck - Widespread Eurasia, Africa - N Africa, N India, S China
Tadorna radjah - Raja Shelduck - N Australia, New Guinea
Tadorna ferruginea - Ruddy Shelduck - C, S Eurasia - N Africa, Asia
Tadorna cana - South African Shelduck - S Africa
Tadorna tadornoides - Australian Shelduck - Australia
Tadorna variegata - Paradise Shelduck - New Zealand

Malacorhynchus membranaceus - Pink-eared Duck - Australia

Salvadorina waigiuensis - Salvadori's Teal - New Guinea

Cairina moschata - Muscovy Duck - S Texas to N Argentina

Asarcornis scutulata - White-winged Duck - Southeast Asia, Sumatra

Pteronetta hartlaubii - Hartlaub's Duck - W, WC Africa

Aix sponsa - Wood Duck - Widespread North America - S South America to N Mexico
Aix galericulata - Mandarin Duck - E Eurasia - SE China

Chenonetta jubata - Maned Duck - Australia

Nettapus auritus - African Pygmy Goose - Widespread Africa
Nettapus coromandelianus - Cotton Pygmy Goose - Widespread Asia - Australasia
Nettapus pulchellus - Green Pygmy Goose - New Guinea, N Australia

Amazonetta brasiliensis - Brazilian Teal - Amazonia, SE South America

Callonetta leucophrys - Ringed Teal - SC South America

Lophonetta specularioides - Crested Duck - S South America

Speculanas specularis - Bronze-winged Duck - Southern Cone

Anas capensis - Cape Teal - C, SC, S Africa - W Africa
Anas strepera - Gadwall - Widespread North America, Eurasia - Central America, Africa, N Asia
Anas falcata - Falcated Duck - E Eurasia - SE China, C Europe
Anas sibilatrix - Chiloe Wigeon - Southern Cone
Anas penelope - Eurasian Wigeon - N Eurasia - Africa, N Asia
Anas americana - American Wigeon - Widespread North America - Central America
Anas sparsa - African Black Duck - Widespread Africa
Anas rubripes - American Black Duck - NE, C, E North America
Anas platyrhynchos - Mallard - Widespread North America, Eurasia - Mexico, N Africa, Australasia, N Asia
Anas fulvigula - Mottled Duck - SC, SE North America
Anas diazi - Mexican Duck - SW US to N, C Mexico highlands - Mexican Duck Anas diazi related to Black and Mottled Ducks
Anas wyvilliana - Hawaiian Duck - Hawaiian Islands
Anas laysanensis - Laysan Duck - Laysan Island
Anas luzonica - Philippine Duck - Philippines
Anas superciliosa - Pacific Black Duck - Widespread Australasia
Anas poecilorhyncha - Indian Spot-billed Duck - S, SE Asia from  Pakistan, S to Sri Lanka, E to Laos and N to SW Yunnan
Anas zonorhyncha - Eastern Spot-billed Duck - China, Southeast Asia
Anas undulata - Yellow-billed Duck - EC, SC, S Africa
Anas melleri - Meller's Duck - Madagascar
Anas discors - Blue-winged Teal - N, C North America - Central America, N South America
Anas cyanoptera - Cinnamon Teal - W North America to S South America
Anas smithii - Cape Shoveler - S Africa
Anas platalea - Red Shoveler - S South America
Anas rhynchotis - Australasian Shoveler - Australia, New Zealand
Anas clypeata - Northern Shoveler - Widespread North America, Eurasia - Central America, Africa, Asia
Anas bernieri - Bernier's Teal - Madagascar
Anas gibberifrons - Sunda Teal - Indonesia
Anas albogularis - Andaman Teal - Andaman Is., Cocos Is. Asia - Split from A. gibberifrons
Anas gracilis - Grey Teal - Widespread Australasia
Anas castanea - Chestnut Teal - Australia
Anas aucklandica - Auckland Teal - Auckland Islands - Was Brown Teal
Anas nesiotis - Campbell Teal - Campbell Islands - Split from A. aucklandica
Anas chlorotis - Brown Teal - New Zealand - Split from A. aucklandica
Anas bahamensis - White-cheeked Pintail - South America, also Caribbean
Anas erythrorhyncha - Red-billed Teal - E, SC, S Africa
Anas flavirostris - Yellow-billed Teal - W, S South America - Anas flavirostris includes ssp oxyptera Anas andium - Andean Teal - Colombia, Ecuador - Split from A. flavirostris
Anas georgica - Yellow-billed Pintail - W, S South America - Anas georgica of South Georgia includes ssp spinicauda, species?
Anas acuta - Northern Pintail - N North America, Eurasia - Central America, Asia, Africa
Anas eatoni - Eaton's Pintail - Kerguelen Islands
Anas querquedula - Garganey - W, C, E Eurasia - W, C Africa, Asia
Anas formosa - Baikal Teal - N Eurasia - SE China, Japan
Anas crecca - Eurasian Teal - Widespread Eurasia - Africa, N Asia
Anas carolinensis - Green-winged Teal - Widespread North America - Central America
Anas versicolor - Silver Teal - S South America
Anas puna - Puna Teal - Peru to NW Argentina
Anas hottentota - Hottentot Teal - E, SE, S, WC Africa

Marmaronetta angustirostris - Marbled Duck - W, C Eurasia - Africa

Netta rufina - Red-crested Pochard - W, C Eurasia - N India
Netta peposaca - Rosy-billed Pochard - S South America
Netta erythrophthalma - Southern Pochard - E, SE, S Africa; Amazonia

Aythya valisineria - Canvasback - Widespread North America - Central America
Aythya americana - Redhead - Widespread North America - Central America
Aythya ferina - Common Pochard - W, C Eurasia - Africa, N Asia
Aythya australis - Hardhead - Australia
Aythya innotata - Madagascar Pochard - Madagascar
Aythya baeri - Baer's Pochard - E Eurasia - S China, Southeast Asia
Aythya nyroca - Ferruginous Duck - W, C Eurasia - Africa
Aythya novaeseelandiae - New Zealand Scaup - New Zealand
Aythya collaris - Ring-necked Duck - Widespread North America - Central America
Aythya fuligula - Tufted Duck - Widespread Eurasia - Africa, N Asia
Aythya marila - Greater Scaup - Widespread North America, Eurasia
Aythya affinis - Lesser Scaup - Widespread North America - Central America

Polysticta stelleri - Steller's Eider - Siberia, Alaska - N Pacific

Somateria fischeri - Spectacled Eider - Siberia, Alaska - N Pacific
Somateria spectabilis - King Eider - N North America, Eurasia - N Atlantic, N Pacific
Somateria mollissima - Common Eider - N North America, Eurasia - N Atlantic, N Pacific - Some Common Eider ssp eg Pacific Eider S. m. v-nigrum species?

Histrionicus histrionicus - Harlequin Duck - N North America, Eurasia - N Atlantic, N Pacific

Melanitta perspicillata - Surf Scoter - N North America - W Atlantic, N,e Pacific
Melanitta fusca - Velvet Scoter - N Eurasia - E Atlantic, W Pacific
Melanitta deglandi - White-winged Scoter - N North America - W Atlantic, E Pacific - Split from M. fusca
Melanitta nigra - Common Scoter - N Eurasia - E Atlantic
Melanitta americana - Black Scoter - N North America - W Atlantic. E Pacific - Split from M. nigra

Clangula hyemalis - Long-tailed Duck - Siberia to N Canada - N Atlantic, N Pacific

Bucephala albeola - Bufflehead - N North America - to Mexico
Bucephala clangula - Common Goldeneye - Widespread North America, Eurasia
Bucephala islandica - Barrow's Goldeneye - NW, NE, North America, also Iceland

Mergellus albellus - Smew - Widespread Eurasia - S, E China

Lophodytes cucullatus - Hooded Merganser - Widespread North America

Mergus octosetaceus - Brazilian Merganser - E, SC South America
Mergus merganser - Common Merganser - Widespread North America, Eurasia
Mergus serrator - Red-breasted Merganser - Widespread North America, Eurasia
Mergus squamatus - Scaly-sided Merganser - E Eurasia

Heteronetta atricapilla - Black-headed Duck - SC South America

Nomonyx dominicus - Masked Duck - Widespread Latin America

Oxyura jamaicensis - Ruddy Duck - Widespread North America, Middle America
Oxyura ferruginea - Andean Duck - Colombia to Southern Cone - Split from O. jamaicensis
Oxyura vittata - Lake Duck - Southern Cone
Oxyura australis - Blue-billed Duck - Australia
Oxyura maccoa - Maccoa Duck - E, S Africa
Oxyura leucocephala - White-headed Duck - SW, C Eurasia

Biziura lobata - Musk Duck - SW, SE Australia