Common Merganser? Northern Virginia, USA (1 Viewer)

[gsimonel]

I took this photo today at Riverbend Park, on the Potomac, in northern Virginia. Is this a female common merganser?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

yes its a female Common Merganser. Most similar Red breasted Merganser lacks sharp division between the brown neck and white breast (in most) and many have browner, more dirty grey upperparts

(what a shortbilled bird, normal for this species in the US?)

 

[gsimonel]

Hello,

yes its a female Common Merganser. Most similar Red breasted Merganser lacks sharp division between the brown neck and white breast (in most) and many have browner, more dirty grey upperparts

(what a shortbilled bird, normal for this species in the US?)

Thanks for the confirmation. I can't say whether or not the bill is typical. I've photographed several hooded mergansers before, but this is my first common merganser.