74 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
Generally distributed throughout the state and not at all uncommon 
during the migrations. Well known to sportsmen who generally despise 
the “fish ducks,” considering them unfit for food. This bird occurs spring 
and fall on all the waters of the state, the smaller ponds and streams as 
well as the shores of the Great Lakes. It nests, at least occasionally, 
from the Saginaw Valley northward, and Dr. Gibbs states that he has 
found it once with a brood of young in Kent county. Mr. Edward Arnold 
informs me that in May, 1905 he found a nest with fourteen eggs at Saginaw 
Bay, Michigan. Mr. O. B. Warren states that in Marquette county it 
nests on isolated lakes near Palmer. Major Boies says it breeds on the 
St. Mary’s River at Neebish and elsewhere. S. E. White states that it is 
not uncommon as a summer resident on Round Island about a mile from 
Mackinac Island. Mr. Norman A. Wood and others found it breeding 
along the Lake Superior shore in Ontonagon county and at Isle Royale 
in the summer of 1894. Mr. Ed Van Winkle says it is abundant and breeds 
in Delta county. While a majority of the birds go farther south to spend 
the winter, undoubtedly a few remain wherever open water is found, 
and Mr. Amos Butler states that on southern Lake Michigan it is one of 
the commonest ducks during the winter months (Birds of Indiana, 1897, 
p. 591). 
The bird feeds very largely on fish and has been accused of serious 
injury to food fishes, particularly to trout. It is very doubtful, however, 
whether it eats many trout, and we know positively that the bird is very 
fond of crayfish, in which most of our Michigan streams abound. It dives 
easily and swims with great rapidity below the water. 
The nest of this duck is usually placed in hollow trees, or holes in cliffs, 
although Audubon describes it as on the ground among rushes. In one 
instance, at least, it was found nesting in a little cave in the edge of a 
rocky cliff on the shore of Saginaw Bay, and it is probable that it frequently 
nests in this manner. The eggs vary from ten to sixteen, or possibly 
more, are buffy white, and average 2.63 by 1.82 inches. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Nostrils near middle of bill. The adult male has the head and upper neck greenish- 
black, the hind head short-crested; lower neck, breast, and belly white or pinkish-white 
(pale salmon); back black, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail ashy-gray, wing-coverts 
with a large white patch crossed by a black bar. The adult female and the young have the 
chin. and upper throat white, rest of head and neck brown or grayish-brown; under parts 
white. 
Length of adult male 25 to 27 inches; wing, 10.50 to 11.25; culmen, 1.90 to 2.20. Length 
of female 21 to 24 inches; wing, 9.60 to 9.75; culmen, 1.80 to 2.00. 
31. Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus serrator (Linn.). (130) 
Synonyms: Red-breasted Goosander, Red-breasted Shelldrake, Fish Duck, Common 
Saw-bill.—Mergus or Merganser serrator of most authors. 
Figure 10. 
The adult male in full plumage is known by the black streaks on the 
lower neck and sides of chest, and by the long, thin, green occipital crest 
which is unlike that of either other species of Sawbill. The female has 
a similar crest which is brown, giving the bird a close resemblance to the 
female Goosander, which, however, is decidedly larger. 
