Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNJB21020
Common Name: 
Red-breasted Merganser
Scientific Name: 
Mergus serrator
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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: 
B999

Longevity

average age unknown, oldest known 9 years
References: 
CS09
Habitat
salt, brackish and freshwater
References: 
B004
H131
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Cordillera, Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.87 (B004); ~85% of total NWT area. Range extent visually estimated from range map in "Distribution of birds in NWT & Nunavut: 2009 Review" (CWS)..
Score: 
G
References: 
B004
Winter Distribution Description: 
Along Pacific coast from Alaska to Baja California, along Atlantic coast south from Nova Scotia to Florida and Gulf of Mexico

Number of Occurrences

dispersed breeder, Much greater than 100
References: 
H131

Historical Distribution

unknown
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). Population estimate from: R270
Score: 
F
References: 
R270

Density

dispersed breeder
Trends

Trends

USFWS waterfowl population status ~9% increase of Merganser spp. and a 40% increase over a 55-year trend, but can't tease apart for individual species (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

In north, 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 2000; 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

  • Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 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
  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 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

  • Titman, R. D (1999) Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) in Birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. No. 443 - CS09 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