Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Shag (Gulosus aristotelis)
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:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCCC-photo:JanetandPhil, Licence,Link,
CC-photo:JanetandPhil, Licence,Link,
Sounds:Recorded by Jelmer Poelstra,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license
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:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCSounds:www.xeno-canto.org,Jens Kirkeby,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/