Species:

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

Shag (Gulosus aristotelis)

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Length (cm):
52-58
65-80
Wingspan (cm):
70-86
90-105
Weight (gram):
900-1350
1760-2154
Size group:
Crow-size
Bigger than a crow
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Noticeably smaller and more slender than Goosander. Bill much thinner, especially at base. Both sexes with more shaggy crest than Goosander. Male: dark head, white collar. Only sawbill with (medium) dark chest. Female differs from Goosander by smooth transition from brown head to grey lower neck, and less contrasting white throat patch. Striking white wing-bars with crossing black stripe visible in flight.

Sound:

Female call a harsh "karr karr". Male display sound a three-syllabic, fast, "chi-ka-wee" slightly resembling Goldeneye.

Female:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-photo:JanetandPhil, Licence,Link,

CC-photo:JanetandPhil, Licence,Link,

Sounds:Recorded by Jelmer Poelstra,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Appearance:

Easily distinguished from Cormorant in breeding plumage, but at other times easily confused with congeners. Smaller than Cormorant, with a more slender neck and rounded head. Bill slender and straight. Steep forehead with peaked front crown, differs from the wedge shaped head of Cormorant. Bill often with yellow tinge (never in Cormorant). Flies with quicker wing-beats and straight neck (Cormorant with bulge). Often dives with a high jump. Juveniles with darker underparts than Cormorant, and often an obvious brownish tinge. Rare in brackish water.

Sound:

Very deep and harsh voice heard at breeding ground. Deep grunts alternated, or ended with clicking sounds.

Social interaction:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

Sounds:www.xeno-canto.org,Jens Kirkeby,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Auks/Cormorants
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species