I saw these birds by Goose Cove the other day and knew they were something I had never seen before. I’ve done exhaustive research trying to identify them, but haven’t been able to. They are very small, like Bufflehead size, are dabblers but also dive, and move very quickly, their beaks resemble mergansers. Does anyone know what they are?
E.J. Lefavour
Good Morning Gloucester 
Captain Tom would know. The guy knows his water fowl.
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They look to me like either female Common or Red Breasted Mergansers. Another possibility is the Gadwall in winter plumage. Remember they all 3 look similar in winter.
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E.J. These was a huge crowd of birders at Niles Pond Saturday. I took some footage, but have not had a chance to sort out what is what. I do know I was filming Ruddy Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers, and Coots. Do you ever use the Mass Audubon Breeding Bird Atlas?
http://www.massaudubon.org/birdatlas/bba1/allbirds.php
Mass Audubon’s atlas usually only shows the male, however the drawing of the male can often give you a clue to as to shape and size. I then go to google images with the Latin name and there you will find photos of the male and female and juveniles.
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Thanks John. I think it could have been a female red breasted merganser. It’s not a gadwall, as its beak was orange and more pointed than the gadwall’s. It didn’t appear to have the “bad hair” or be as large as a merganser, but a female merganser is the closest looking and maybe they are smaller than the males. There were two male red breasted mergansers not far away hanging with a couple of golden eyes.
Kim I always used to use Petersen’s Field Guide in my Plum Island birding days, but these days I use allaboutbirds, birdweb or whatever site will give me the best photo references since I’m comparing against photos I’ve taken.
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not sure, but you could send one of the images to a nature photo group …
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I’m not sure but if it is mildly seasoned and tea smoked might I suggest a light bodied red burgundy.
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Only you, Ed could take this post to a food level. Believe me, they wouldn’t have enough meat on them for you, and they’re probably very gamey. Great to see you at Capt. Joe’s yesterday.
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based on size, beak and the ruddy crest seen in several pics- looks like winter plumage hooded merganser
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