Common merganser
| Common merganser Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| M. m. merganser, male in Vaxholm, Sweden | |
| M. m. americanus, female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Genus: | Mergus |
| Species: | M. merganser
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mergus merganser | |
| Subspecies | |
|
3, see text | |
| M. merganser range Breeding Resident Passage Non-breeding
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Merganser americanus Cassin, 1852 | |
The common merganser or goosander (Mergus merganser) is a large sea duck of rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, Asia, and North America. The common merganser eats mainly fish. It nests in holes in trees. The name "common merganser" is used in North America, while "goosander" is used in Eurasia.