Common Merganser Juveniles? - Eastern Ontario, Canada (1 Viewer)

Gordon W

Well-known member

• Mar 20, 2018

• #1

Shot this morning at sunrise in eastern Ontario, Canada. Spring migration has started. Can anyone tell if the three common mergansers swimming with the male are females or juveniles or some of both?

 

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Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Mar 20, 2018

• #2

I think Mergansers at this time of the year will be in either male or female plumage so the ones that look like females will be females.

Very striking picture, by the way.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Mar 20, 2018

• #3

Birds at left and (less obviously) 2nd from right, have pale lores and I'd think are 1st-winters. Bird at the right has solid brown head (apart from the chin) and is an adult female.

 

Gordon W

Well-known member

• Mar 20, 2018

• #4

Thank you, Andrew. Greatly appreciated. I wish they had been closer, but you take what you're given.

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Mar 20, 2018

• #5

Nutcracker said:

Birds at left and (less obviously) 2nd from right, have pale lores and I'd think are 1st-winters. Bird at the right has solid brown head (apart from the chin) and is an adult female.

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It's actually possible that the bird on the left is a young male as it looks quite big and is very white on the breast i.e. adult plumage starting to appear. I think the two on the right are females (wouldn't like to age them).

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Mar 20, 2018

• #6

Andrew Whitehouse said:

It's actually possible that the bird on the left is a young male as it looks quite big and is very white on the breast i.e. adult plumage starting to appear.

Click to expand...

Agree (that's why I didn't suggest a sex for it :t