Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderAnseriformes
- FamilyAnatidae (Anàtids)
- GenusMergus (Typical Mergansers)
- SpeciesMergus merganser (Common Merganser)
The common merganser or goosander (Mergus merganser) is a large sea duck of rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, Asia, and North America. The common merganser eats mainly fish. It nests in holes in trees. The name "common merganser" is used in North America, while "goosander" is used in Eurasia. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Merganser sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 67 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Riding Mountain National Park
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
Common Teal
Anas crecca
Canvasback
Aythya valisineria
Redhead
Aythya americana
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Merganser in Riding Mountain National Park?
About 13% of wildlife watchers report a Common Merganser sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 67 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Merganser in Riding Mountain National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Common Merganser in Riding Mountain National Park in our monthly data.