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Common Merganser Mergus merganser
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
| 2008 | Least Concern |
| 2004 | Least Concern |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Medium |
| Land mass type | Average mass | - |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 9,750,000 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 9,750,000 | medium |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Increasing | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 7.3 | - | - | - |
| Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.1,700,000-2,400,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2006), while national population estimates include: c.100-10,000 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 wintering individuals in China; <c.100 breeding pairs and c.1,000-10,000 wintering individuals in Korea and c.1,000 wintering individuals in Japan (Brazil 2009). | ||||
| Trend justification: The overall population trend is increasing, although some populations may be stable and others have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006). This species has undergone a small or statistically insignificant increase over the last 40 years in North America (data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven 2007). | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Albania | Native | No | |||
| Algeria | Vagrant | No | |||
| Austria | Native | No | |||
| Azerbaijan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Bangladesh | Native | No | |||
| Belarus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Belgium | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Bermuda (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Bhutan | Native | No | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Native | Yes | Yes | ||
| Bulgaria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Canada | Native | No | Yes | ||
| China (mainland) | Native | No | |||
| Croatia | Native | No | |||
| Cyprus | Vagrant | No | |||
| Czech Republic | Native | No | |||
| Denmark | Native | No | |||
| Estonia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Finland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| France | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Germany | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Greece | Native | No | |||
| Greenland (to Denmark) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Hungary | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iceland | Native | No | |||
| India | Native | No | |||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iraq | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ireland | Native | No | |||
| Israel | Vagrant | No | |||
| Italy | Native | No | |||
| Japan | Native | No | |||
| Kazakhstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kyrgyzstan | Native | No | |||
| Latvia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Lebanon | Native | No | |||
| Liechtenstein | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Lithuania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Luxembourg | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Native | No | |||
| Malta | Vagrant | No | |||
| Mexico | Native | No | |||
| Moldova | Native | No | |||
| Mongolia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Montenegro | Native | No | |||
| Morocco | Vagrant | No | |||
| Myanmar | Native | No | |||
| Nepal | Native | No | |||
| Netherlands | Native | No | Yes | ||
| North Korea | Native | No | |||
| Norway | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Pakistan | Native | No | |||
| Poland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Portugal | Vagrant | No | |||
| Romania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Asian) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Central Asian) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Serbia | Native | No | |||
| Slovakia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Slovenia | Native | No | |||
| South Korea | Native | No | |||
| Spain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Sweden | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Switzerland | Native | No | |||
| Taiwan (China) | Native | No | |||
| Tajikistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Tunisia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Turkey | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Turkmenistan | Native | No | |||
| Ukraine | Native | No | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom | Native | No | |||
| USA | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Uzbekistan | Native | No | Yes |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Niagara River Corridor |  |
| China (mainland) | Burqin River and Kanas Lake | |
| China (mainland) | Heyang Huang He Wetlands Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Hongjian Nur | |
| China (mainland) | Sayram Nur | |
| Croatia | Donji Miholjac fish-ponds | |
| Denmark | Arresø | |
| Denmark | Hovvig | |
| Denmark | Lovns Bredning | |
| Denmark | Norsminde (Kysing) Fjord | |
| Denmark | Roskilde Fjord, Selsø and Kattinge Søerne | |
| Denmark | Smålandsfarvandet | |
| Denmark | Smålandsfarvandet (part of) | |
| Estonia | Lahemaa | |
| Estonia | Väinameri | |
| Finland | Kangasala wetlands | |
| Finland | Köyliönjärvi and Pyhäjärvi lakes | |
| Finland | Kokkola and Kälviä archipelago | |
| Finland | Krunnit archipelago | |
| Finland | Laajalahti bay, Vanhankaupunginlahti bay and Viikki | |
| Finland | Merenkurkku archipelago | |
| Finland | Mietoistenlahti bay | |
| Finland | Oulu region wetlands | |
| Finland | Paimionlahti bay | |
| Finland | Pori archipelago and wetlands | |
| Finland | Porvoonjoki Delta | |
| Finland | Tornionjoki Delta | |
| Greece | Lake Kastoria (Orestiada) | |
| Iceland | Apavatn-Laugarvatn | |
| Iceland | Mývatn-Laxá | |
| Iceland | Sog | |
| India | The Chapories of Lohit Reserve | |
| Kazakhstan | Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve | |
| Latvia | Nida-Perkone | |
| Latvia | Seashore at Palanga | |
| Lithuania | Marine waters along the continental part of Lithuania | |
| Lithuania | The northern part of the Curonian Lagoon | |
| Mongolia | Khar Lake | |
| Mongolia | Khar Us Lake | |
| Mongolia | Khovsgol Lake | |
| Mongolia | Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake | |
| Netherlands | Lake IJsselmeer | |
| Netherlands | Steile Bank and Mokkebank | |
| Norway | Inner part of Porsanger fjord | |
| Norway | Tanamunningen | |
| Poland | Delta of the Swina river | |
| Poland | Lower Odra river valley | |
| Poland | Puck Bay | |
| Poland | Slowinski National Park | |
| Poland | Szczecin lagoon | |
| Poland | Vistula river mouth | |
| Romania | Black Sea | |
| Romania | Buhuşu reservoir - Bacău - Tătărăşti | |
| Romania | Danube Delta | |
| Romania | Olt valley | |
| Russia (Asian) | Babushkina bay | |
| Russia (Asian) | Bolon' lake | |
| Russia (Asian) | Karaginskiy island | |
| Russia (Asian) | Kuril'skoye lake | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Basins of the Schuchya and Khadytayakha rivers | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Kondinskiye lakes | |
| Russia (European) | Berezovye islands of Vyborg Bay | |
| Russia (European) | Kuloy river | |
| Russia (European) | Kurgalski Peninsula | |
| Russia (European) | Vaygach island | |
| Slovenia | River Drava | |
| Slovenia | Srednja Sava | |
| South Korea | Han-gang river | |
| Sweden | Lake Åsnen | |
| Sweden | Lake Skedviken | |
| Sweden | Outer Stockholm archipelago | |
| Sweden | River Umeälven delta | |
| Sweden | Western part of lake Mälaren | |
| Switzerland | Lake Geneva: Rolle to Céligny | |
| Switzerland | Lake Geneva: Versoix and Hermance to Geneva | |
| Switzerland | Lake Neuchâtel: southern shore | |
| Switzerland | River Rhone: Geneva to Verbois reservoir | |
| Tajikistan | Bulunkul and Yashilkul lakes and mountains | |
| Tajikistan | Dashtidjum | |
| Tajikistan | Drumkul Lake | |
| Tajikistan | Dzhavshangoz | |
| Tajikistan | Karakul lake and mountains | |
| Ukraine | Burshtyns'ke reservoir | |
| Ukraine | Kanivs'kyi Nature Reserve | |
| USA | Niagara River Corridor | |
| Uzbekistan | Tudakul and Kuymazar Reservoirs | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | Boreal | suitable | breeding |
| Forest | Temperate | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Estuaries | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy-Mud | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | major | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | major | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) | major | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes | suitable | non-breeding |
| Altitude | 1900 - 1900 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | International | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Food (human) | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Sport | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Mergus merganser. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Anatidae (Ducks, geese and swans) |
| Species name author | Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Increasing |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 9,750,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
| - Summary information on this species | |
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