50 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 



Mergansers; Anatinae, River Ducks; Fuligulinae, Sea Ducks; 

 Anserinae, Geese ; and Cygninae, Swans. 



SUBFAMILY MERGING. MERGANSERS 



The Mergansers are represented in North America by 

 three species, all of which have been taken in South Dakota. 

 Since the hind toe is webbed, they are classed by some authors 

 as Sea Ducks. They are very appropriately called Fish Ducks, 

 as they have narrow, round bills with saw-like teeth, showing 

 that their habits of feeding are different from those of the true 

 Ducks. The Mergansers are seldom used for food in our State ; 

 since they feed almost exclusively on fish and frogs their flesh 

 has a "fishy flavor." In migration they are among the last of 

 this family of birds to go south, and are never seen in large 

 flocks like true Ducks. 



129. MERGANSER (Mergus americanus.) 



"Fish Duck," "Sheldrake." 



These are about the size of Mallards. The male has a very 

 dark blue head, white breast and belly, white and black wings, 

 and gray back. The female, entirely different from the male in 

 plumage, has white chin, reddish brown on crown and crest, 

 white under parts, and gray back. 



While a few pairs may occasionally nest in South Dakota, 

 their nesting locality is much farther north. A few are shot each 

 year in migration by hunters. 



130. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Mergus Serrator.) 



Smaller than the American Merganser. The dark green 

 head of the male has feathers longer than the head of the Ameri- 

 can. Breast brown with black spots; under parts light; wings 

 whitish; back black. The female has crown ashy brown; back 

 gray; and the end of wing feathers white. Migratory only, as 

 their nesting grounds are well towards the Arctic Circle. 



131. HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes cucullatus.) 



This is the smallest of the Merganser family. The male 

 has a large black and white hood, black neck, white under parts, 

 and black back. The female is similar but with brownish head 

 and gray neck. These birds summer occasionally in South Da- 



