Search the Community

Westport, CT, Sherwood Island, on the sound (salt water), around high tide on Saturday, November 21, seen about 11am: a flock of 36 individuals (counted, not estimated) - which at first I thought were all Red-breasted Mergansers. Now I'm wondering if some of the individuals may have been Common Mergansers, in a mixed flock. Observed about 20 minutes altogether. Photos are from shore, at a bit of a distance, and with tricky light. This was my first sighting of Red-breasted Mergansers, so I'm fairly new to birding and have lots to learn. Any help is greatly appreciated! Originally ID's these two as Red-breasted, but possibly Common? I think these 3 are Red-breasted - not as much defined white on chest or under bill. (Lighting makes it tough.) All Red-breasted? Again, lighting is tricky but I don't see any white chins. I'm wondering if the two individuals in the foreground might be Common. Smoother heads, and coloring might be consistent with Common. (Is the breast on the flapping bird a bit dingy above the white belly?) A portion of the large flock, all together.

These images are stills taken from a video I recorded this morning, at Hart Park in Bakersfield CA. Apologies for low quality. Am new to bird identifying, just curious about what I saw. Similar in look to Wood ducks or Harlequin ducks, however I distinctly recall seeing a brown belly, separated by a horizontal white line from black/dark-colored back and head. There was also some red on the face. About the same size as the mallards they were swimming with.