Merganser Ducks
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Three merganser ducks, in two genera, inhabit ponds, rivers and ocean areas across North America.
Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) represent the Lophodytes genera.
The top picture shows the male with a raised crest. Female crests lack a white patch.
While classified as sea ducks, the North American population splits its year round residence between pond and forest areas of the Northwest and Southeast.
Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser), the largest and most common of the merganser ducks, inhabit fresh water areas across most of North America
Green feathered head differentiate males and females. Females, like the one in the second pictured, have red feathered heads.
The less common Red-breasted Merganser, picture three, shares some physical characteristics with Common Mergansers. Males have green feathered heads and females have red feathered heads.
Unlike the other two merganser species, they tend to prefer salt water environments over fresh water environments.
Red-breasted mergansers winter along coastal areas of North America, with smaller populations found along inland lakes. Breeding takes place around the arctic circle.
© 2005-2011 Patricia A. Michaels