4.09- Common Merganser

A female Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) cruises the River Neuse

This duck was cruising solo just off the South Avenue waterfront.

I have now added the female Common Merganser to my life list... Back in February I added the male and female Red-breasted Merganser.

My bird guide indicates both Mergansers spring and summer breeding ranges are primarily in Canada and the Great Lakes...

The guide notes that Red-breasted Mergansers winter in sheltered coastal waters (where I found the pair in February), but that the Common Merganser's winter range extends only as far south as the Ohio river valley, with year-round ranges from the Chesapeake to Newfoundland on the East coast.

This gal apparently has not read the bird guide.

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