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 Wood Buffalo National Park, based on 7 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Wood Buffalo National Park
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
Common Teal
Anas crecca
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
Redhead
Aythya americana
📅 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 Wood Buffalo National Park?
About 12% of wildlife watchers report a Common Merganser sighting in Wood Buffalo National Park, based on 7 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Merganser in Wood Buffalo National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Common Merganser in Wood Buffalo National Park in our monthly data.