Birds and wildlife

Goosander

Mergus merganserGroup: Ducks, geese and swansUK Conservation status:Green

How to identify

These handsome diving ducks are a member of the sawbill family, named for their serrated bills, used for catching fish. A largely freshwater bird, the Goosander first bred in the UK in 1871. It built up numbers in Scotland and, since 1970, it has spread across northern England into Wales, reaching south-west England. Its love of salmon and trout has brought it into conflict with fishermen. It is very sociable, forming into flocks of several thousand in some parts of Europe.

Key

  1. Resident
  2. Passage
  3. Summer
  4. Winter
* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Where best to see them

Key facts