Goosander

Red-breasted Merganser

I'd agree with FBBird; the cut-off between brownish neck and chest isn't sharp enough for Goosander (American Merganser on the other side of the Atlantic).

And very odd to see a sawbill on land, behaviour that in the wild would probably never happen - look how far back those legs are, woefully ill-fitted for walking!

So could this be an immature bird? I'm almost certain I read the signage correctly.

I think it's a young drake; the duck wouldn't have quite that much white on the upper parts.

IanRRobinson said:

I think it's a young drake; the duck wouldn't have quite that much white on the upper parts.

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Interesting - so what would this be? Also at Cologne and definitely no red on the breast.

View attachment 3081

sasha_dalaria said:

Interesting - so what would this be? Also at Cologne and definitely no red on the breast.

View attachment 3081

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That's a drake Scaly-sided Merganser, Mergus squamatus.

Maguari said:

That's a drake Scaly-sided Merganser, Mergus squamatus.

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Thanks for that - can i just check that it's the same species known as Chinese merganser as illustrated by Madge & Burn in Helm?

sasha_dalaria said:

Thanks for that - can i just check that it's the same species known as Chinese merganser as illustrated by Madge & Burn in Helm?

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Yes, Chinese Merganser is the same species.