Red-breasted Merganser: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2026 — We had a female Common Merganser hanging out on the river in the rapids just at the tide/ice line, until it pretty much froze over, and we have had a few female Red-breasted Mergansers down at the mouth of the river in the tidal creek that comes in there, just behind the dunes, but yesterday we had a small raft of mixed males and females there…the first male mergansers I have seen this winter. According to the authorities, Red-breasted Mergansers are true sea ducks in winter, preferring salt to fresh, while Commons are freshwater ducks. The female Commons apparently leave the northern lakes and rivers when the ice begins to form and move south and closer to the coast to find open water, while the males hang back until (and if and when) the ice completely closes the waters. You are more likely to see small groups of male and female Red-breasted right along the coast. Handsome ducks in any case, and you have to love the wild headgear. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm (cropped to at least 1000mm equivalent field of view). Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.