Goosander

[sleipnerofasgard]

once again im not too sure if this is a merganser red breasted i think ,the weather was awful at leighton moss today foggy wet and suprisingly warm

[GuyF]

I think it's a Goosander rather than a Merganser. I'm not sure, but I'd say it's a juvenile.
Guy

[paulchandler6]

I'll second that, a juvenile Goosander.

Paul

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I would say Juv Goosander too....but the white ring around the birds neck doesn't seem quite right.

[sleipnerofasgard]

having looked up merganser in the collins guide (what i should have done before posting) i now see that directly under it is the perfect picture of said bird under the title goosander tsk tsk silly me

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Thats how we all learnt at some point! Do not worry about making mistakes sleipnerofasgard, even the best birders in the world will every so often!

[Bagooseuk]

Im not so sure.. The stripey face looks more like a female Merganser to me..although Im probably wrong (am using RSPB British birds book). I also took a photo of a similar bird a couple of days ago in Wales. Am uploading now, so will post here if accepted. Please could you let me know if you think mine is a Merganser? I hope so, I named her Delphine

[Bagooseuk]

My photo from Wales. Any help with distinguishing between a Merganser and Goosander, greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[aeshna5]

Given reasonable views the females of both species are quite different. The Red-breasted Merganser is smaller (though we can't see that on a photo), but the brown of head on this species doesn't have a clean cut border with the lower neck as in Goosander. Also bill in Merganser is thin based + bill looks slightly up-turned, whereas Goosander has broader base. The crest shape also differs. Goosander is a much smarter looking bird in female/imm. plumage.

The photos on here are Goosander as pointed out by others.

[sleipnerofasgard]

that will do for me i bow to the forums undoubted knowledge