Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
GenusMergus (Typical Mergansers)
SpeciesMergus merganser (Common Merganser)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Hortobágy National Park

2 Verified sightings at Hortobágy National Park From 2019 to 2026

8,501 Verified sightings across all 46 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the 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.

The first formal description of the common merganser was written by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae. He introduced the current binomial name Mergus merganser. The genus name is a Latin word used by Pliny and other Roman authors to refer to an unspecified waterbird, and merganser is derived from mergus and anser, Latin for "goose". In 1843 John James Audubon used the name "Buff-breasted Merganser" in addition to "goosander" in his book The Birds of America.

The three subspecies differ in only minor detail: It is 58–72 cm (23–28+1⁄2 in) long with a 78–97 cm (30+1⁄2–38 in) wingspan and a weight of 0.9–2.1 kg (2 lb 0 oz – 4 lb 10 oz); males are on average slightly larger than females, but with some overlap. Like other species in the genus Mergus, it has a crest of longer head feathers, but these usually... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Hortobágy National Park

Mergus serrator

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Anser anser

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Anas platyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Cygnus olor

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Mareca strepera

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Anas crecca

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Aythya ferina

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Spatula clypeata

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Aythya nyroca

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Mareca penelope

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Anser albifrons

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Anas acuta

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~70%
2	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~60%
3	Plitvice Lakes National Park	🇭🇷 Croatia	~40%
4	Bavarian Forest National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	~20%
5	Triglav National Park	🇸🇮 Slovenia	~20%
6	Cairngorms National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	~10%
7	Chitwan National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	~10%
8	Wood Buffalo National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
9	Kenai Fjords National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
10	Snowdonia National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	~10%
11	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
12	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
13	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
14	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
15	Thingvellir National Park	🇮🇸 Iceland	~10%
16	Biebrza National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~10%
17	Vatnajokull National Park	🇮🇸 Iceland	~10%
18	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
19	Nikko National Park	🇯🇵 Japan	~10%
20	Gauja National Park	🇱🇻 Latvia	~10%
21	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
22	Royal Manas National Park	🇧🇹 Bhutan	<5%
23	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
24	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	<5%
25	Manas National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
26	Royal Bardia National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	<5%
27	Białowieża National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	<5%
28	Fertő-Hanság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	<5%
29	Kiskunság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	<5%
30	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
31	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
32	Namdapha National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
33	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
34	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
35	Ecrins National Park	🇫🇷 France	Insufficient data
36	Khangchendzonga National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
37	Jiuzhaigou National Park	🇨🇳 China	Insufficient data
38	Vanoise National Park	🇫🇷 France	Insufficient data
39	Hortobágy National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	Insufficient data
40	Tatra National Park	🇸🇰 Slovakia	Insufficient data
41	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
42	Jim Corbett National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
43	Bandhavgarh National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
44	Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park	🇲🇳 Mongolia	Insufficient data
45	Kaziranga National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
46	Pyrénées National Park	🇫🇷 France	Insufficient data

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Common Merganser

About the Common Merganser

Recent sightings of Common Merganser in Hortobágy National Park

Closest Relatives at Hortobágy National Park

Red-breasted Merganser

Greylag Goose

Mallard

Mute Swan

Gadwall

Common Teal

Common Pochard

Northern Shoveler

Ferruginous Duck

Eurasian Wigeon

Greater White-fronted Goose

Northern Pintail

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found