Common Merganser Mergus merganser Linnaeus, 1758S2B (State rare breeder)    Synonyms: American Merganser, COME, Fisherman, Mergus merganser americanus, Pied Fisherman, Shelldrake.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Anseriformes   >   Family Anatidae   >   Genus Mergus   

Status:

Common winter resident on large open water, such as lakes and reservoirs. Rarely encountered in southern Maryland and on the lower Eastern Shore away from Blackwater NWR. Local elsewhere on the Eastern Shore. Increasing as a breeder along the Potomac River and Susquehanna River.

Where to find:

Common on most of our large reservoirs in winter, including Triadelphia and Loch Raven. Also easy to find in the large areas of open water at Blackwater NWR.

There are 546 records in the project database.

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A pair of Common Mergansers in Harford Co., Maryland (2/18/2007). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A hen Common Merganser on the Susquehanna River, Harford Co., Maryland (2/18/2007). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)(More of this species)

A Common Merganser in Garrett Co., Maryland (2/5/2017). Photo by J.B. Churchill. (MBP list)

A Common Merganser in Garrett Co., Maryland (2/5/2017). Photo by J.B. Churchill. (MBP list)

A hen Common Merganser with chicks on the Potomac River in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/23/2013). Photo by Dave Czaplak. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/18/2017). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

An adult male Common Merganser in Baltimore Co., Maryland (2/22/2014). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Common Merganser family at Riley's Lock, Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/25/2011). Photo by Evelyn Ralston. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Montgomery Co., Maryland (1/12/2021). (c) Ed Hass, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ed Hass via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A hen Common Merganser with young on the Potomac River, Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/10/2012). Now a regular nesting species there. Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/10/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Common Mergansers along the Susquehanna River in Harford Co., Maryland (10/21/2014). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/10/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

A pair of Common Mergansers displaying in Howard Co., Maryland (2/22/2009). Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

A drake Common Merganser on the Susquehanna River, Harford Co., Maryland (2/18/2007). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)(More of this species)

A male Common Merganser in flight in Harford Co., Maryland (3/28/2014). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/2/2016). No rights reserved. Photo by Andy Wilson via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A hen Common Merganser at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (2/1/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Montgomery Co., Maryland (12/29/2018). (c) pgwamsley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by pgwamsley via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Montgomery Co., Maryland (1/12/2021). (c) Ed Hass, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ed Hass via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/18/2022). (c) rando boyo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by rando_boyo via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A pair of Common Mergansers in Garrett Co., Maryland (4/25/2021). (c) Mike Mosser, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Mike Mosser via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Common Merganser with young in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/22/2022). (c) Scot Magnotta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Scot Magnotta via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Mergansers in Prince George's Co., Maryland (1/18/2018). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Juvenile Common Mergansers with an adult in Washington Co., Maryland (5/15/2021). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/28/2022). (c) Ron Wertz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). Photo by Ron Wertz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Calvert Co., Maryland (2/23/2021). (c) david mlr, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by david_mlr via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Dorchester Co., Maryland (1/10/2010). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Common Merganser in Garrett Co., Maryland (2/13/2020). Photo by William Blauvelt. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Prince George's Co., Maryland (2/17/2018). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Washington Co., Maryland (4/6/2021). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (2/1/2014). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A flock of Common Mergansers over Wicomico, Co., Maryland (1/4/2013). Common Merganser is rare in Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester Counties. Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/18/2017). (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

A female Common Merganser in Somerset Co., Maryland (2/23/2021). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Common Merganser in Harford Co., Maryland (7/24/2021). (c) bcur155, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bcur155 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Mergansers followed by a Canvasback in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (2/1/2019). Photo by Daniel Irons. (MBP list)

A female Common Merganser feeding on Magicicada in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/18/2021). (c) bugzilla, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bugzilla via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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