32 Birds of Colorado 
Genus MERGUS. 
Bill about as long as the head, chiefly red, serrations acute, recurved, 
claw-like; tarsus about two-thirds as long as middle toe; crest low and 
flimsy ; head green or brown. 
Two species in the United States. 
American Merganser. Mergus americanus. 
A.O.U. Checklist no 129—Colorado Records—Allen 72, p. 164; 
Drew 85, p. 18; Beckham 85, p. 144; Morrison 89, p. 148; Cooke 97, 
pp. 52, 194; 06, p. 19. 
Description.—__Male—Head with its slight short crest, and upper- 
neck glossy dark green ; upper-parts black, fading into ashy on the 
rump and tail; wings white except the primaries, outer secondaries 
and bases of the greater coverts, which are black; below, including 
the lower part of the neck all round, white marbled with dusky on the 
flanks ; iris carmine, bill red, culmen and hook darker, legs deep red. 
Length 26; wing 10°80; tail 4°75; culmen 2°10; tarsus 1°75. 
The female is smaller—wing about 100; head (with a crest slightly 
longer than in the male) and neck rufous-brown, throat white, upper- 
parts ashy; white on the wings restricted to a few of the inner 
secondaries and coverts; below white; iris yellowish, legs orange 
with dusky webs. 
Distribution.—Breeding from south Alaska and Labrador south to 
the northern tier of the United States and further south along the 
mountain ranges to New Mexico and Pennsylvania; south to winter 
as far as the Gulf coasts and southern California. 
This bird in most common on migration in Colorado, chiefly in April, 
but at the same time a good many winter especially along the South 
Platte near Fort Morgan, and in the lakes near Denver; and » certain 
number breed in summer in the mountains, though of this we have 
only two definite statements—Allen saw a pair near Montgomery 
at the head waters of the Platte, at about 11,500 feet in July, and Carter 
states that it nests at Breckenridge. The only other definite record 
is that of Beckham, who observes that it is common in April on the 
Arkansas at Pueblo. Warren informs me he has seen examples killed 
on Deckers Lake near Crested Butte, about 9,000 feet, in the fall 
Habits.—These Ducks are usually found in pairs or 
small family parties along rivers or on open lakes where 
there is plenty of fish. These they pursue and catch 
by diving, in which they are very expert. They are 
hardly edible in consequence of their fish diet. The 
