Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Janet Tubb on March 15, 2015, 04:40:26 AM

Title: Common Merganser ?
Post by: Janet Tubb on March 15, 2015, 04:40:26 AM

This duck was among the Mallards on Oshawa Creek in downtown Oshawa.

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8710/16632298568_a8284d2096_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rkJSUq)

Title: Re: Common Merganser ?
Post by: Canoncan on March 15, 2015, 08:36:19 AM

The way to distinguish the female Common Merganser from the Red-Breasted Merganser is the Common will have a distinct white chinstrap. It's tough to see in the photo, however it appears to be a Common

Title: Re: Common Merganser ?
Post by: JW Mills on March 15, 2015, 10:04:01 AM

Looks like a Red-breasted to me.
Common would have a sharp contrast between neck and breast.

Title: Re: Common Merganser ?
Post by: Canoncan on March 15, 2015, 11:10:05 AM

Like I said from this photo it is difficult to distinguish any contrast as it is swimming away

Title: Re: Common Merganser ?
Post by: Janet Tubb on March 16, 2015, 01:09:50 AM

This photo shows the front and no sharp line between the neck and breast, so it's a Red-breasted ?

 (https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7595/16208084174_f7429f86e7_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qGfEK9)

Title: Re: Common Merganser ?
Post by: Henrique Pacheco on March 16, 2015, 12:40:55 PM

Yes. Red breasted.