WATERFOWL of Asia
The order Anseriformes contains about 150 living species of birds in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie Goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. All species in the order are web-footed for efficient swimming and have a large wide bill with a specialized tongue that allows water to be sucked in the front of the bill. An array of plates traps food particles as the water is expelled out the sides of the bill. Not all species feed this way, some graze on plants and some also catch fish. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
Sea Ducks
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae
The seaducks, Merginae, form a subfamily of the duck, goose and swan family of birds, Anatidae. Most are essentially marine outside the breeding season. Many species have developed specialized salt glands to allow them to tolerate salt water. Some of the mergansers prefer riverine habitats. All but two of the 20 species in this group occupy habitats in far northern latitudes. The fish-eating members of this group, such as the mergansers and Smew, have serrated edges to their bills to help them grip their prey. Other seaducks take molluscs or crustaceans from the sea floor. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
Genus Mergus
Fish-eating ducks that are in a sea-duck subfamily. But inspite of the sea they usually prefer rivers.
Marganser, Chinese aka Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus Found: Asia
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels -Sylvan Heights 2, 3, 4) BS Thurner Hof
2, 3) Male 4) Female
Merganser, Common aka Goosander Mergus merganser Found: North America, Europe, Asia
The females of the Common Merganser and Red-breasted Merganser are similar. The Common Merganser female has white under its chin while the Red-breasted doesn't. Also, the red on the neck of the Common Merganser ends aburptly compared to the gradual transition on the Red-breasted Merganser. For both species, the male has a black head and the female a red head.
4, 8) Quartl - Munich, Germany 5) Dick - Cooper Landing, Alaska 7) Ted Grussing - Arizona
Male has black head
4) Note the fishing line leading to the probably doomed bird's mouth.
Merganser, Red-breasted Mergus serrator Found: North America, Europe, Asia
The females of the Common Merganser and Red-breasted Merganser are similar. The Common Merganser female has white under its chin while the Red-breasted doesn't. Also, the red on the neck of the Common Merganser ends aburptly compared to the gradual transition on the Red-breasted Merganser. For both species, the male has a black head and the female a red head.
7) Alan D Wilson Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, California
 Alan_D_Wilson_2686.jpg)
Genus Mergellus - 1 species
Smew Mergellus albellus Found: Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 5, 8) Dick Daniels- Sylvan Heights 2, 3, 4, 6, 7) Dick - Sylvan Heights
1 - 4) Female 5 - 8) Male
Genus Melanitta
Scoter, Black Melanitta americana Found: North America, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Stonebird 2)Peter Massas 3) Andrew Reding - Washington 4) Alan D. Wilson
1) Juvenile female 2) Juvenile male 3, 4) Male
Scoter, White-winged Melanitta deglandi Found: North America, Asia
Photographed by: 1) David Maher - Maine 2) USFWS 3, 6) Alan D. Wilson - White Rock, British Columbia
4) Len Blumin - Bodega Bay, California 5) Elaine R Wilson - British Columbia
1) Juvenile 2, 3) Female 4, 5, 6) Male
Eiders
Eiders are large seaducks. They breed in the cooler latitudes of the Northern hemisphere. The down feathers of eider ducks, and some other ducks and geese, are used to fill pillows and quilts—they have given the name to the type of quilt known as an eiderdown.
Genus Polysticta
Eider, Steller's Polysticta stelleri Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Laura Whitehouse - Alaska SeaLife Center, Anchorage 2) Glen Smart, USFWS
1) Pair 2) Female
Genus Somateria
Eider, Common Somateria mollissima Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Scotland 2, 6) Dick - Sylvan Heights
5) Dick - Scotland 7) Dick - Maine 8) Dick - New Hampshire
Male is the classy dresser.
Eider, King Somateria spectabilis Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward 3, 7) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights
4, 8) Dick - Alaska Sea Life Center 5, 6) Dick - Sylvan Heights
1, 2, 3) Female 5, 6, 7) Male breeding 4, 8) Male nonbreeding
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.