What Is a Red-Breasted Merganser?
The Red-Breasted Merganser is a medium-sized duck that can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They may be identified by their red, serrated bills, the spiky crests on their heads and rust-colored breasts. Closely related to the other Merganser species, the Red-Breasted Merganser belongs to the subfamily of Merginae, or seaducks. Like many of its Merganser relatives, it summers in high, Northern latitudes such as Alaska, Northern Canada, Europe and Asia. During winter months it migrates South and tends to inhabit coastlines and saltwater estuaries. The Red-Breaster Merganser is a diving duck that can use its long, serrated bill to feed primarily on fish. Like the other Mergansers, the Red-Breasted Merganser is a migratory duck that tends to breed in high, Northern latitudes. Unlike the other Mergansers, it tends to prefer marine environments when summering in lower latitudes. It can summer in riverine environments as well, such as lakes, rivers and streams, though this is less
