This is Episode 105. It’s all about a small group of birds called mergansers. These are diving ducks known for their skill at catching fish. They have long, slender bills with serrated edges, earning them the nickname "sawbills."
Maybe you’re familiar with these birds. Maybe you’re already a big fan. Or maybe you didn’t know they existed until just now. Either way, our goal today is to learn a lot more about Common Mergansers and their close relatives.
There are five species that we call mergansers. And there’s another species in this group that’s called the Smew. The Smew is sort of an honorary merganser.
The six species we’re looking at today are divided among 3 genera.
Of all the ducks in the world, mergansers are the species that depend the most on fish. So not surprisingly, they’re excellent divers and swimmers.
Links of Interest
- Merganser Duckling Swimming at High Speed [VIDEO]
- Red-breasted Merganser Courtship Display [VIDEO]
- Hooded Merganser Courtship Display [VIDEO]
- Hooded Merganser Chicks Jumping Out of Nest [VIDEO]
- Red-breasted and Common Mergansers herding fish [VIDEO]
~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.