The Red-breasted Merganser 



quickly along for fifty feet or so, every chick rising and skipping after her, 

 flapping its little wings and paddling the surface of the water with its 

 little feet. After three of these spurts the youngsters seemed to tire, and 

 one climbed on its mother's back; and soon several had done so, and rode 

 securely there as long as they were in sight. Fortunately we had a good 

 pair of Zeiss glasses and were able to watch every movement until they 

 disappeared into the willows." 



No. 342 



Red-breasted Merganser 



A. O. U. No. 130. Mergus serrator Linnaeus. 



Synonyms. — Red-breasted Sheldrake. Shelldrake. Saw-bill. 



Description. — Adult male: Head all around black, with a greenish gloss on 

 sides above; a loose crest from crown to nape; middle of neck all around white; lower 

 neck all around (narrowly and impurely behind) and fore-breast, cinnamon-rufous 

 streaked with black; sides of breast, upper back, and inner scapulars black; a tuft 

 of enlarged feathers on sides of breast before wing, each feather white, bordered 

 completely with black; wing-coverts, outer scapulars, speculum, and inner secondaries 

 white, the last black-edged ; two narrow transverse black bars formed by exposed 

 bases of greater coverts and secondaries; primary-coverts, outer secondaries, and 

 primaries blackish; sides and around on rump heavily wavy-barred, black and white; 

 lower back and tail ashy gray, more or less speckled or wavy-barred on tips with black 

 and whitish; lower breast, belly, and crissum white, usually tinged with pale salmon or 

 cream-color. Bill narrower than in preceding species; bill and feet bright red, the 

 former with dusky ridge; eyes carmine. Adult female and immature: Similar to those 

 of preceding species, but head duller, grayish chestnut; white of wing without black 

 bars; position of nostrils distinctive. Bill and feet duller-colored. Length 508-635 

 (20.00-25.00); wing 243.8 (9.60); tail 82.6 (3.25); bill 55.9 (2.20); bill from nostril 

 44.5 (1.75); tarsus 44.5 (1.75). Female somewhat smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Mallard size; narrow serrated bill; head loosely crested; 

 reddish of breast and sides wavy-barred black and white, specifically distinctive for 

 male. Females of this species cannot be told out of hand from those of M. m. ameri- 

 canus. In hand the nostril within basal third of bill (as distinguished from nostril 

 just within basal half for M. m. americanus) is diagnostic. River divers. 



Nesting. — Nest: On the ground under logs, brush, rocks, and the like, near 

 water; lined with leaves, moss, and feathers. Eggs: 6 to 12; olive-buff to deep olive- 

 buff. Av. size 65 x 44.7 (2.56 x 1.76). Season: April 20-May 10; one brood. 



General Range. — Northern portion of Northern Hemisphere, breeding north- 

 erly; south in winter to the Mediterranean, India (rarely), China, Japan, and the 

 southern United States. In America breeds from the Arctic Coast south to the north- 

 ern tier of states and winters in open water south to Lower California, Louisiana, and 

 Florida; casually to Cuba and Hawaii. 



'747 



