Re: Birding @ A.D. Barnes and Crandon Park

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Alex Harper on 09:18:28 12/05/04

In Reply to: Re: Birding @ A.D. Barnes and Crandon Park posted by Balladares

What field marks are you using to call these birds Common? Common Merganser would be a rarity as far north as Georgia and the most of the Carolinas, let alone south Florida. Males are very different in breeding plumage (which they are in right now), and the Common males have a very snow-white breast and neck, while the Red-brested males have a brown neck and gray sides. Females can be seperated by looking at a few field marks on the head. The female Common has a very contrasting head color from it's gray body, while the Red-breasted's head is just plain and dull, with a pretty scruffy looking crest. Red-breasted Mergansers are seen in the same exact habitat around the Deering Estate. They love shallow bays and estuaries with lots of sea grass and 3-10 foot deep waters. Common Mergansers will be found in fresh water if one was reported in Florida, and most likely a lake/pond/river of some depth at that. I have seen Common Mergansers in Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Chataqua (NY), and deep, swift rivers in Pennsylvania, but not in an area of shallow water yet at least.

But then again, it would not hurt to take a picture of a possible Common and post it on the board ;)

Keep birding the birdiful Deering,
Alex

Follow Ups:

refinance <a href=http://www.mcfimortgage.com refinance - refinance 00:30:32 12/31/04 (0)
Online Pharmacy - Generic Cialis 21:20:29 12/24/04 (0)
Red-breasted Merganser - Balladares 10:54:45 12/05/04 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
Comments:	: What field marks are you using to call these birds Common? Common Merganser would be a rarity as far north as Georgia and the most of the Carolinas, let alone south Florida. Males are very different in breeding plumage (which they are in right now), and the Common males have a very snow-white breast and neck, while the Red-brested males have a brown neck and gray sides. Females can be seperated by looking at a few field marks on the head. The female Common has a very contrasting head color from it's gray body, while the Red-breasted's head is just plain and dull, with a pretty scruffy looking crest. Red-breasted Mergansers are seen in the same exact habitat around the Deering Estate. They love shallow bays and estuaries with lots of sea grass and 3-10 foot deep waters. Common Mergansers will be found in fresh water if one was reported in Florida, and most likely a lake/pond/river of some depth at that. I have seen Common Mergansers in Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Chataqua (NY), and deep, swift rivers in Pennsylvania, but not in an area of shallow water yet at least. : : But then again, it would not hurt to take a picture of a possible Common and post it on the board ;) : : Keep birding the birdiful Deering, : Alex
Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]