Stats

Lifespan: 9-14 yrs
Size: Medium
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Flock
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: Northern Hemisphere
Movement: Swimming
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Speed
Status: Common

About

A slim diving duck of coastal waters and northern lakes, sporting a spiky, wind-blown double crest and a thin serrated bill used to snag fish underwater. It is the fastest duck ever clocked in level flight, with one individual recorded outpacing a pursuing aircraft at over 100 mph.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A clutch of eggs rests in a down-lined nest near water, covered and warmed by the brooding female.
2.
hatchling
A downy hatchling follows its mother to the water within hours and feeds itself almost immediately.
3.
juvenile
A juvenile grows its first true feathers, swimming in the family group and learning to dabble or dive.
4.
adult
Fully grown with adult plumage.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Mergus
Species: Mergus serrator