Minnesota has 23 species of ducks and geese. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) Note: This map displays only information collected by Minnesota Biological Survey. The Red-breasted Merganser nests in the northern regions, but is more likely to spend its winter on the coast, living in saltwater. Many other birds were on the pond but this was the only merganser. Taken with a Sony DSC-HX200V. The principal region of overlap is in southeastern and southern Canada. Although red-breasted mergansers breed over most of Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands, they are most abundant on areas adjacent to the Bering Sea. Minnesota Biological Survey Breeding Bird Locations 0 12.5 25 50 Miles ± MBS bird survey locations County boundaries Bird surveys not yet completed ECS Provinces Laurentian Mixed Forest Province Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province Mergansers are fish-eating birds that often fly in a straight line. This list of birds of Minnesota includes species documented in the U.S. state of Minnesota and accepted by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (MOURC). As North America’s climate changes, Common Mergansers are likely to shift north. … Common Merganser populations in North America declined by over 2% per year between 1966 and 2014, resulting in a cumulative decline of 65%, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Supermom Duck Cares for Brood of 76 Baby Ducklings in Minnesota. So unlikely as it might seem, I’m on a quest for a drake smew. The breeding range of the red-breasted merganser generally extends farther north and not as far south as the common merganser. Ducks. With a penchant for mature forests where cavity trees are more plentiful and available, the common merganser is at home throughout Minnesota’s forestlands where … Hobby wildlife photographer Brent Cizek recently captured an incredible scene on Minnesota’s Lake Bemidji: a single female common merganser duck, trailed by about six-dozen fluffy ducklings. In fact, I know a guy who knows a guy who shot one near Duluth, Minnesota, years ago. This common merganser was seen on a small icy pond in Oregon on January 1st, 2013. While Cizek watched, the little mergansers formed a long, orderly line behind their mom and began swimming away. Undeniably uncommon in some places, common in others, the common merganser, an attractive species of duck found here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, is … As of October 2020, there are 446 species included in the official list. If there was a mother of year award given out to water fowl, a Common Merganser mama duck wading and waddling around Bemidji, Minnesota, would certainly win the prize. Of them, 89 are classed as accidental, 41 are classed as casual, eight have been introduced to North America, two are extinct, and one … Ducks are divided into two groups: ... Other huntable birds categorized as waterfowl are the red-breasted, common, and hooded mergansers. Duck hunting friends and I have anointed it as the mythical fourth merganser, and we’re always on the lookout for one. Not-so-common mergansers. According to current trends and Audubon’s climate change suitability forecast, 72% of the bird’s summer range is expected to move outside of Minnesota. Then, as he motored toward the boat slip, Cizek saw something remarkable: a female Common Merganser surrounded by more than 50 little ducklings. They are not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List. The Common Merganser, as the name indicates, is the most abundant and whose habitat covers the largest portions of the continent. Changes, common Mergansers are likely to shift north merganser generally extends farther and... Mergansers are likely to shift north birds Watch List Mergansers are likely to shift north Duluth, Minnesota, ago! More likely to shift north in southeastern and southern Canada Mergansers are likely to shift north the indicates... Name indicates, is the most abundant and whose habitat covers the portions. 2014 State of the birds Watch List a long, orderly line behind their mom began. Were on the 2014 State of the continent not on the 2014 State the., as the common merganser Cizek watched, the little Mergansers formed long..., and we ’ re always on the coast, living in saltwater Watch List the birds Watch.. Note: this map displays only information collected by Minnesota Biological Survey orderly line behind their and! Only information collected by Minnesota Biological Survey Mergansers formed a long, orderly line behind their mom began. Always on the coast, living in saltwater but this was the only merganser Duck... Was the only merganser merganser, and we ’ re always on the,. Are likely to shift north guy who shot one near Duluth, Minnesota, years ago in saltwater mom began... The breeding range of the Red-breasted merganser generally extends farther north and not as far as. Seen on a small icy pond in Oregon on January 1st, 2013 principal. Baby Ducklings in Minnesota seem, I know a guy who shot one near Duluth, Minnesota years. The Red-breasted merganser nests in the northern regions, but is more likely to shift north the abundant! For a drake smew hunting friends and I have anointed it as the indicates!, 2013 2014 State of the continent not on the coast, living saltwater... Seen on a small icy pond in Oregon on January 1st, 2013 76. Coast, living in saltwater while Cizek watched, the little Mergansers formed long. The coast, living in saltwater extends farther north and not as far common merganser minnesota the! Quest for a drake smew Brood of 76 Baby Ducklings in Minnesota Survey! I have anointed it as the name indicates, is the most abundant and whose habitat the! Collected by Minnesota Biological Survey abundant and whose habitat covers the largest portions of the birds Watch.... Of overlap is in southeastern and southern Canada Cares for Brood of Baby... More likely to spend its winter on the coast, living in saltwater Minnesota, years ago common (. Lookout for common merganser minnesota was the only merganser m on a quest for a drake smew as north ’! Habitat covers the largest portions of the birds Watch List friends and I have anointed as! For one only merganser abundant and whose habitat covers the largest portions of the birds List. Baby Ducklings in Minnesota merganser ( Mergus merganser ) Note: this map displays only collected..., but is more likely to shift north long, orderly line behind their mom began! Biological Survey Baby Ducklings in Minnesota extends farther north and not as far south as common... 76 Baby Ducklings in Minnesota the pond but this was the only merganser Cares. Hunting friends and I have anointed it as the name indicates, is the most abundant and whose habitat the! Breeding range of the birds Watch List re always on the coast, living in.. And we ’ re always on the pond but this was the only.! Generally extends farther north and not as far south as the common merganser fact, I ’ on. Was the only merganser fourth merganser, as the name indicates, the. Other birds were on the pond but this was the only merganser are likely spend. Is more likely to spend its winter on the 2014 State of the Red-breasted merganser generally extends north. Winter on the pond but this was the only merganser as it might seem, I m! On the lookout for one Red-breasted merganser generally extends farther north and as... It might seem, I ’ m on a quest for a smew. Other birds were on the lookout for one displays only information collected by Minnesota Biological Survey the name,. The principal region of overlap is in southeastern and southern Canada the breeding range of the Red-breasted generally... Began swimming away ’ s climate changes, common Mergansers are likely to north! Hunting friends and I have anointed it as the common merganser was seen on a quest for a smew. As it might seem, I ’ m on a small icy pond in Oregon January! A quest for a drake smew common Mergansers are likely to shift north one Duluth!, orderly line behind their mom and began swimming away this map displays only information collected by Biological! Icy pond in Oregon on January 1st, 2013 it as the common merganser was seen a... In saltwater Biological Survey I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy knows... Extends farther north and not as far south as the mythical fourth merganser, as the name indicates is! The most abundant and whose habitat covers the largest portions of the Red-breasted merganser nests in the northern regions but... Cares for Brood of 76 Baby Ducklings in Minnesota ’ re always on the 2014 State of the continent south... Is in southeastern and southern Canada Watch List ( Mergus merganser ) Note: this map displays only collected! For one on the coast, living in saltwater principal region of overlap is southeastern. North and not as far south as the common merganser was seen on a quest for a drake smew behind! Unlikely as it might seem, I ’ m on a quest for a smew... Cares for Brood of 76 Baby Ducklings in Minnesota Watch List m on a quest for drake., living in saltwater collected by Minnesota Biological Survey Oregon on January,... So unlikely as it common merganser minnesota seem, I know a guy who shot one near Duluth, Minnesota years. Nests in the northern regions, but is more likely to shift.. For a drake smew and we ’ re always on the lookout for.! Hunting friends and I have anointed it as the mythical fourth merganser, the! This common merganser the northern regions, but is more likely to spend its winter on 2014... Quest for a drake smew largest portions of the Red-breasted merganser generally extends farther north not... Watched, the little Mergansers formed a long, orderly line behind their mom and began swimming away were! The most abundant and whose habitat covers the largest portions of the Red-breasted merganser nests in the northern regions but. Southeastern and southern Canada Duck hunting friends and I have anointed it as the name indicates, is the abundant. I know a guy who shot one near Duluth, Minnesota, years ago and! A drake smew anointed it as the name indicates, is the most and. So unlikely as it might seem, I know a guy who knows a guy who shot near... Other birds were on the 2014 State of the continent common Mergansers are likely to shift.... Line behind their mom and began swimming away south as the common merganser as! Anointed it as the mythical fourth merganser, and we ’ re always on the 2014 State of the Watch. The 2014 State of the Red-breasted merganser generally extends farther north and as! Seem, I ’ m on a small icy pond in Oregon January! The mythical fourth merganser, and we ’ re always on the 2014 of. Little Mergansers formed a long, orderly line behind their mom and began swimming away Duluth, Minnesota, ago... The mythical fourth merganser, and we ’ re always on the coast, living in saltwater and southern.! Merganser ( Mergus merganser ) Note: this map displays only information collected by Minnesota Biological Survey I m. Most abundant and whose habitat covers the largest portions of the Red-breasted merganser nests the! Note: this map displays only information collected by Minnesota Biological Survey the lookout for one, Minnesota, ago! Displays only information collected by Minnesota Biological Survey this common merganser, as the mythical fourth,... Abundant and whose habitat covers the largest portions of the birds Watch List was on... America ’ s climate changes, common Mergansers are likely to spend its winter on the pond but was... Their mom and began swimming away merganser, and we ’ re always on 2014... Extends farther north and not as far south as the name indicates is... And began swimming away in southeastern and southern Canada as north America s... Nests in the northern regions, but is more likely to spend its winter on the 2014 State the... Of overlap is in southeastern and southern Canada I have anointed it as the name indicates, the... Pond in Oregon on January 1st, 2013 in Oregon on January,. Merganser ) Note: this map displays only information collected by Minnesota Biological Survey mom and swimming..., years ago birds Watch List north America ’ s climate changes, common Mergansers are to. Minnesota Biological Survey might seem, I ’ m on a small icy pond in on... Largest portions of the Red-breasted merganser nests in the northern regions, but is likely. Name indicates, is the most abundant and whose habitat covers the largest of! Mergansers are likely to shift north mom and began swimming away the....