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Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator   [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names Trends & Distribution Breeding & Survival Biometrics Books & Links
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
BTO Codes: RM , REBME EURING No: 2210
Number in Britain: 2200 pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: GREEN
European: Not a species of concern
Global: Least Concern
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Status in UK: (A)  Resident Breeder, Winter Visitor
Subspecies: Monotypic
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Length: 55 cm Wingspan: 78 cm Weight: M/F: 1.1 kg    
Scientific name from: L.: mergus=a waterbird and L.: serra=a saw
World Distribution: BREEDS: n Eurasia & n North America, WINTERS: south to Mediterranean, Black Seas & n Mexico
Habitat: Lakes, rivers, on migration also seacoasts
Diet: Primarily fish, often pursued by swimming short distances
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Population and Distribution
Population Trend: No population trend available
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Help with the New Atlas)   
British Population Size:
    Summer: 2150 pairs in 1988-91
    Winter: 9840 individuals in 1986-91
    First Record: 10th Century [Fossil evidence from Middle Pleistocene, c. 500,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 64 to 108 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA
Survey Results: BirdTrack
Wetland Bird Survey Alerts
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Breeding and Survival
Egg Size: 65 x 45 mm Egg Weight: 72.0 g (of which 8 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 4
Clutch Size: 8 - 10 eggs
Incubation: 31 - 32 days by the: Female
Fledging: 60 - 65 days as: Precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid: Unavailable
Number of Broods: 1

Number Ringed: 3
Adult Survival: No data Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: Typical Lifespan: No data
Maximum Recorded Age: 12yr0m   (Sweden: 21yr 3m)
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Biometrics
Ring Size: G or F*
Wing Length Adult: Insufficient Data.
Juvenile: Insufficient Data.
Male: Insufficient Data
Female: Insufficient Data
Weight Adult: Insufficient Data.
Juvenile: Insufficient Data.
Male: Insufficient Data
Female: Insufficient Data
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Other Names
Gaelic: Sìolta-dhearg Welsh: Hwyaden Frongoch
Danish: Toppet skallesluger Dutch: Middelste zaagbek
Finnish: Tukkakoskelo French: Harle huppé
German: Mittelsäger Hungarian: Örvös bukó
Icelandic: Toppönd Irish: Síolta Rua
Italian: Smergo minore Norwegian: Siland
Polish: Szlachar Portuguese: Merganso-de-poupa
Spanish: Serreta mediana Swedish: Småskrake
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For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
   Kear, J 2005 Ducks, geese and swans Oxford University Press [598.48 KEA]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
Wikipedia entry
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
Selected scientific papers published 1980-2005
Find more papers on Google Scholar
Find more papers on Scirus

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BirdWeb logo, click to go to BirdWeb BirdFacts home | BTO Home
Email: birdfacts@bto.org

These data should be cited as:
Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.22, Oct 2008). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)

 

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