Mergus merganser
Length: 21-28 Weight: 2-5 lbs
Identification:
Male has a white breast, black back, and green head with long, red-bill. Female has a brown head, otherwise gray overall.
Distribution:
Resident in northwestern US and Canada. Breeding range extends across Canada, and winter range extends across the lower continental US.
Cool Facts:
Mergansers have serrated bills which help them hold onto fish that they catch. They are colloquially known as “sawbills.”
The name merganser is a combination of mergus and anser, meaning “diving goose” in Latin.
Common Mergansers typically nest in cavities excavated by woodpeckers, but may also build nests in nestboxes, rock crevices, or buildings.
Make your own bird cookies!
References:
Bird on the Move 