Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNJB21010
Common Name: 
Common Merganser
Scientific Name: 
Mergus merganser
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Anseriformes
Family: 
Anatidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

2
References: 
GG11

Longevity

average age unknown, maximum age 13 yr
References: 
GG11
Habitat
woodland freshwater, cavity nester
References: 
B004
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.36 (B004); ~50% of the south portion of the NWT, potentially ~80% of the NWT area, possible range extension to coast. Range extent visually estimated from range map in "Distribution of birds in NWT & Nunavut: 2009 Review" (CWS).
Score: 
G
References: 
B004
Winter Distribution Description: 
coastal North America, large lakes, rivers, and reservoirs of the central United States

Number of Occurrences

dispersed breeder, much greater than 100
References: 
H131

Historical Distribution

unknown, but possibly similar to present
References: 
H131

Area of Occupancy

unknown, but likely stable
Score: 
-
References: 
GG7
R270
R271
Population

Population Size

2014 USFWS waterfowl surveys estimate 124,487 Merganser spp. in the C. & N. Alberta–N.E. British Columbia–NWT transects (strata 13-18, 20, & 77). 70% of the area of these transects are within the NWT. To estimate population size, we multiplied the 2014 pop estimate in this strata region by 70% to get a rough population estimate for Merganser spp. in the NWT portion (~87,000 COME and RBME combined) (R270)
Score: 
F
References: 
R270

Density

dispersed breeder
Trends

Trends

In 2014, Merganser spp. increased ~9% from the previous year and a 40% increase since 1955 (R270)
Score: 
I
References: 
GG7
R270
R271
Threats

Threats

potential over-hunting, habitat loss, oil spills, pressures on population occur mainly outside NT/NU in southern breeding areas and wintering grounds
Score: 
C
References: 
H131

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Forestry and possibly pollution, development, global climate change
Score: 
-
References: 
H131
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
S Rank: 
S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Grant Gilchrist based mostly on printed material in 2004; Reviewed in 2005 by J. Hines and C. Swoboda based on printed literature only, no change in status; Reviewed in 2010;no change ; Reviewed by Ian Fife and Cindy Wood CWS in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
February 17, 2015

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Mallory, M. and K. Metz (1999) Common Merganser. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union Birds of North America No. 442 CWS office. Yellowknife - GG11 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Sea Duck Joint Venture Management Board (1999) Sea Duck Joint Venture Prospectus. Sea Duck Joint Venture Management Board February 1999 CWS office. Yellowknife - GG7 Return
  • Olson, S.M. (2014) United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Vancouver, WA. 114pp - R270 Return
  • Sea Duck Joint Venture (SDJV). (2008) - R271 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Longevity

  • Mallory, M. and K. Metz (1999) Common Merganser. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union Birds of North America No. 442 CWS office. Yellowknife - GG11 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Population Size

Olson, S.M. (2014) United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Vancouver, WA. 114pp - R270 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Sea Duck Joint Venture Management Board (1999) Sea Duck Joint Venture Prospectus. Sea Duck Joint Venture Management Board February 1999 CWS office. Yellowknife - GG7 Return
  • Olson, S.M. (2014) United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Vancouver, WA. 114pp - R270 Return
  • Sea Duck Joint Venture (SDJV). (2008) - R271 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return