Catch up with the RSPB’s own nature detectives on the case as they look to save some very special places. Read more advice about what to do if you find a bird that needs help. Following the floods this winter, watch how one area is using nature as a natural protector. See our ideas to keep you connected to nature during coronavirus, From our regular emails to your favourite social media, there’s more than one way to keep in touch with nature. Birds from N Europe also arrive in late autumn. This comical little duck lives up to its name – look out for the black tuft of feathers on its head! See our toolkit for ways to campaign with us to protect nature and save wildlife. Red-breasted merganser (female) Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Grey White. The UK breeding population of red-breasted mergansers are concentrated in the north-west of Scotland, England, Wales and in parts of N Ireland. Unlike the Common Merganser, which prefers fresh water, the Red-breasted Merganser likes salt water, and is typically found in shallow tidal waters where it dives for fish. Its bill is long, slim, red and slightly upturned. We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy, The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. Like its larger cousin the Common Merganser, the Red-breasted Merganser is a widespread bird throughout the northern hemisphere, and the range of the two species overlaps widely. They are gregarious, forming flocks of several hundred in the autumn. The red-breasted merganser belongs to the ‘sawbills’ because of its long, narrow bill with saw-like ‘teeth’ which are good for gripping fish. As well as a free gift and magazines, you’ll get loads of ideas for activities to try at home. See some of the ways you can get into green living. 207076, Scotland no. Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird, Help nature thrive as a corporate partner, Climate change effects on nature and wildlife. Find out more about the nature and wildlife outside your window. UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. Great ideas on how your garden, or even a small backyard or balcony, can become a mini nature reserve. The Wildlife Trusts: Protecting Wildlife for the Future. Mergus serrator. They return to the breeding areas in March. The body of the bird has a broad white strip down the back and it has grey flanks and a black back. Tell me more. Red-breasted mergansers need to eat 15–20 fish per day. Identifying the two large sawbills, Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser, can be pretty straight-forward when confronted with male birds. UK birds start to flock on the coast from July, reaching a peak in December. It’s nesting season for our waterfowl too but what are the rules you need to follow for ducks, geese or swans? Nature is an adventure waiting to be had. Research suggests that they need to dive underwater 250–300 times per … At home on both fresh- and saltwater, red-breasted mergansers are most commonly seen around the UK's coastline in winter. The Red-breasted Merganser is a shaggy-headed diving duck also known as the "sawbill"; named for its thin bill with tiny serrations on it that it uses to keep hold of slippery fish. The red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) is a diving duck, one of the sawbills.The genus name is a Latin word used by Pliny and other Roman authors to refer to an unspecified waterbird, and serrator is a sawyer from Latin serra, "saw". Heathland home to more than 2565 species. How to identify a Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator): The Male Red-breasted Merganser in Winter has a green-black head with a wispy crest. Registered charity number 207238. The UK breeding population of red-breasted mergansers are concentrated in the north-west of Scotland, England, Wales and in parts of N Ireland. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. Mergansers in all plumages are characterised by a somewhat smart casual look. However, the females, or redheads as they are more often called, can be much more difficult. This fantastic wetland site is located north of Southport town centre and has some of the best wildlife in the region. These handsome diving ducks belong to the sawbill family, so called because of their long, serrated bills, used for catching fish. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations. red-breasted mergansers are gregarious birds, forming flocks of hundreds in winter. RSPB reserves with red-breasted mergansers in winter include Morecambe Bay, Lancs; Langstone Harbour, Hants; Exe Estuary, Devon; Arne, Dorset; Snettisham and Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk; Lough Foyle, Co Londonderry; Belfast Lough, Co Antrim; Culbin Sands, Highland; Udale Bay, Highland. The streamlined red-breasted merganser is a handsome bird and a great fisher - its long, serrated bill helps it to catch and hold its slippery fish prey. This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season. It is most commonly spotted around the coast in winter. Find out more about the partnership, © The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. In winter the resident birds are joined by immigrants, including birds from Iceland and Fennoscandia. Classified in the UK as Green under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2015). Find out how to identify a bird just from the sound of its singing with our bird song identifier playlist. The Wildlife Trusts is a movement made up of 46 Wildlife Trusts: independent charities with a shared mission. * This map is intended as a guide. Their diet of fish such as salmon and trout has brought them into conflict with game fishermen. The reserve has seen more than thirty species of wading birds. It breeds in the boreal forest on freshwater and saltwater wetlands. Red-breasted merganser Where and when to see them Goosanders can be seen in the upland rivers of N England, Scotland and Wales in summer. SC037654, We use cookies on our website to help give you the best online experience. Males are decked out with a dark green shaggy head, a red bill and eye, and a rusty chest. Get out, get busy and get wild! The Red-breasted Merganser is a widespread and a relatively common breeding species, found all year round on the coast. 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