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Red-breasted mergansers        Images © Mark A. Chappell

Red-breasted mergansers are unusual ducks specialized for fish-eating, with thin serrated bills for holding slippery prey.   Adult males have contrasty black-and-white plumage; females are brownish, but both sexes have ragged crests.   They are normally quite shy, spending the winter mainly in salt water.   These were photographed in Pacific Grove, at Bolsa Chica wetlands in coastal Orange County, in San Diego, and at the Salton Sea, all in California.  More photos of this species are on this page.

  • Canon 10D, 1D Mk. II,1D3, 7D, 1D4, or 7D2; 500 mm IS lens plus 2X converter or 800 mm lens plus 1.4X converter (2003, 2005-2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017)