Mergus squamatus
The Scaly-sided Merganser, *Mergus squamatus*, is a striking and critically endangered diving duck, renowned for its distinctive 'scaly' flank pattern formed by black-edged white feathers. Males boast an iridescent dark green head with a long, wispy crest, a brilliant white breast, and a dark, glossy back, contrasting sharply with their unique flanks. Females share the same 'scaly' pattern but have a reddish-brown head and a less prominent crest, overall appearing duller. Both sexes feature a...
Found primarily along fast-flowing, clear rivers within dense taiga and temperate forests, particularly favoring areas with mature trees for nesting. During winter, it moves to larger, slower-flowing rivers, estuaries, and coastal bays at lower elevations.
Primarily piscivorous, consuming various small to medium-sized fish; supplements its diet with aquatic insects, larvae, and crustaceans, all captured by diving.
Scaly-sided Mergansers are largely diurnal, exhibiting solitary or paired behavior during the breeding season, becoming more gregarious in small flocks during winter. They are expert plunge-divers, utilizing their specialized serrated bills to grasp fish underwater, often pursuing prey for consid...
The Scaly-sided Merganser breeds primarily in the remote forested river systems of the Russian Far East, particularly in Primorye and Amurland, extending into northeastern China and potentially North Korea. Its breeding range is highly fragmented and restricted, favoring pristine taiga and temper...
Critically Endangered
- The Scaly-sided Merganser is one of the most globally endangered duck species, classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. - Its common name directly refers to the distinctive, overlapping black-edged white feathers on its flanks, unique among waterfowl. - Unlike most ducks, it nests exclu...