Common Merganser / Goosander (Storskrak)

Characteristics:
The Common Merganser, also known as the Goosander, is a large diving duck (length 58–67 cm) with a long, sleek body and a narrow, serrated red bill adapted for catching fish.

• Male: Striking dark green head, white body, black back, and bright red bill.
• Female: Grey body, reddish-brown head, and a white throat patch.
  Both sexes have sharp, slender bills and black wingtips visible in flight.

Habitat:
The Common Merganser is found throughout most of Sweden, especially in central and northern regions. It prefers clear lakes, rivers, and forested archipelagos, and in winter, it gathers in ice-free coastal areas and large inland lakes.

Behaviour:
The Goosander is an expert fish diver, often seen swimming and diving in small groups. It sometimes hunts cooperatively, driving schools of fish toward shallow water. It nests in tree cavities, rock crevices, or nest boxes, sometimes several hundred meters from water.
Ducklings leave the nest immediately after hatching, often leaping from high tree holes to the ground before following the female to water.

Diet:
Primarily fish-eating, but also consumes fish fry, frogs, aquatic insects, and occasionally small crustaceans. The serrated bill helps it grip slippery prey underwater.

Reproduction:
Breeding occurs in April–May. The female lays 6–12 eggs, which she incubates for about 30 days. The ducklings are precocial, swimming and diving soon after hatching.

Migration:
The Common Merganser is a migratory species, but many overwinter in southern Sweden, along the west coast and major lakes. Northern populations migrate to coastal and western Europe for the winter.

Distribution:
Widespread across northern Europe, Asia, and North America. In Sweden, it is common around lakes and rivers in forested regions.

Hunting:
The Common Merganser is a game bird in Sweden and may be hunted from 21 august to 31 January. Hunting usually occurs along lakes, bays, and coastal waters during the autumn migration.

Firearm class (Sweden):
Hunted with a shotgun, typically using pellet size no. 3–5.

Think for the hunting exam:

• Large diving duck with slender red bill and serrated edges (“saw-bill”).
• Male: white body, dark green head.
• Female: grey body, reddish-brown head, white throat.
• Feeds mainly on fish – sometimes called “fish duck.”
• Nests in tree holes or nest boxes.
• Ducklings jump from the nest right after hatching.
• Hunted with shotgun during autumn and winter.