Goosander

Mergus merganser (Linnaeus, 1758)

		male female
2021-03-13 Irkutsk, Lower embankment 2022-06-01 Krasnoyarsk, the mouth of the river. Bazaikha	© Mihail Ivanov © Andrey Borodkin

Distribution

Breeds maily in the forest zone of Siberia; more south appears only as local breeder and common migrant. Rarely breeds on plains, prefering mountain areas.

Biology

Quite common breeding migrant. Inhabits lakes and rivers where fish are plentiful, on steppe and forests and in mountains to 1500-2000 m. Appears early before ice breaks in April; migration finished by May. Birds fly singly, in pairs or in small flocks. Breed in separate pairs. Nest is built from dry grass lined with plenty of down near water, in tree holes, in cliffs between stones or on ground under bushes. Clutches of 8-15, usually 8-9 eggs in May – first half June. Female incubates about 32 days. Juveniles hatch as early as June, but mainly in first half of July. Sometimes several broods join with one female. Autumn migration is late; end September – October and continues until water freezes usually in November. Significant numbers of birds winter on ice-free waters in the south of Siberia, for example, close to hydroelectric stations and in the source of Angara River.

References

В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014.