Goosander
Mergus merganser
Known as Common Merganser in North America
Female - Nottinghamshire, England - February 2010
Goosanders are distributed throughout most of the northern Holarctic region where they can be mostly found on rivers and wooded freshwater lakes.
Female - Nottinghamshire, England - February 2010
They are a fairly recent colonist of Britain, first arriving in Scotland in the mid-nineteenth century. Since then they have spread throughout Scotland and into northern England and Wales.
Female - Nottinghamshire, England - February 2010
In winter, some of the Scottish breeding birds move south into England where the numbers are supplemented by Baltic and Scandinavian birds.
Male - Nottinghamshire, England - February 2010
Like all other "sawbills", Goosanders are mostly piscivorous, mainly preying on eels and small fish, which they often catch after prolonged chases under water. In the early spring, during the spawning season, frogs and toads are their favourite prey.
Female - Nottinghamshire, England - February 2010
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