Goosander vs Red-breasted Merganser: How to Tell Them Apart

This elegant diving duck is bigger than the Mallard; it swims high in the water with a majestic posture, head held high. Its long, narrow bill has mandibles with serrated edges (sawbill), and is red and hook-tipped. Its head is proportionately large, its body is long and its neck is thick. The male's plumage appears white, but close-up he is touched with a light pink. His head is a deep green and his back is black. The female has a reddish bill, though not quite as bright as the male. Her body is grey and her head is orange-brown, darker in comparison to the Red-breasted Merganser female. She has a drooping, shaggy crest, a bright white throat and chin, brown neck and grey breast. Juvenile birds look like a duller female. When flying, both sexes have white wing patches, though the female's patches are only on the trailing edge of her wings, while the whole upper surface of the male's wings appear white in flight.

Primarily found in freshwater environments, this bird breeds in Scotland, northern England, Wales and a few farther south. It prefers upland and hilly areas with lakes and slow-flowing rivers, often close to wood or forests. When not in breeding season, they frequent freshwater lakes, old gravel workings and reservoirs.

Predominately a silent bird, the male may make gentle ringing calls when displaying, or a low growl if disturbed.

This is a diving duck with a slim, long body, about the size of a Mallard. It's part of a group called sawbills. Both sexes have a thin, narrow bill, and a distinctive, wispy, rather shaggy crest on the back of the head. The sexes are otherwise dissimilar; the male has a deep green head, a spotted orange-red breast, grey flanks and a back black. The female's head and nape are reddish-brown, her throat is pale and her neck is grey. Her body plumage is mostly a mixture of greys. The juvenile bird is a dark version of the adult female, but its crest is shorter. When flying, the male displays white sections on the wings with two dark bars, while the female has a smaller white section with only one bar.

It is attracted to lakes and rivers with abundant fish-life; in Britain, it breeds primarily in Scotland, particularly western and central Scotland and the islands and the Highlands. It can also be found in north-west England and north-west Wales, and the west of Ireland. This bird prefers sheltered bays and coastal inlets, as well as areas with woods or cover. During the winter it is almost exclusively a coastal bird.

Predominately silent, though can make rough croaky, noises, or soft, grunting calls, particularly when displaying and nesting.