Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is in the Ducks, Geese, and Swans family (Anatidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 48,035 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in March.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Common Merganser: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Merganser
The common merganser (North American) or goosander (Eurasian) (Mergus merganser) is a large duck of rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, northern and central Asia, and North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Merganser by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9,875 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Washington | 3,937 | March | Nov–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 3,139 | March | Jan–Apr |
| Oregon | 2,866 | January | Dec–Nov |
| New York | 2,614 | March | Jan–Jun |
| Michigan | 2,193 | May | Feb–Sep |
| Colorado | 1,706 | January | Nov–Sep |
| Vermont | 1,635 | April | Feb–May |
| Massachusetts | 1,563 | March | Dec–Apr |
| Minnesota | 1,542 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Alaska | 1,421 | July | Dec–Oct |
| Maryland | 1,366 | February | Dec–May |
| Illinois | 1,294 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Wyoming | 1,178 | July | May–Sep |
| New Jersey | 1,037 | March | Dec–Mar |
| Ohio | 1,016 | February | Jan–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 979 | March | Dec–Jun |
| Idaho | 879 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Montana | 849 | July | Mar–Sep |
| Maine | 794 | July | Mar–Sep |
| Nevada | 718 | January | Dec–Jul |
| Virginia | 648 | February | Dec–May |
| New Hampshire | 487 | April | Mar–May |
| Connecticut | 474 | March | Jan–Jun |
| Arizona | 467 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Utah | 465 | March | Dec–Aug |
| West Virginia | 433 | February | Nov–Aug |
| Tennessee | 366 | March | Dec–Jul |
| New Mexico | 283 | January | Dec–Apr |
| North Carolina | 283 | April | Jan–Jul |
| South Dakota | 245 | December | Nov–Apr |
| Texas | 224 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Delaware | 150 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Indiana | 138 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Kansas | 122 | March | Dec–Mar |
| Oklahoma | 95 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Nebraska | 88 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Missouri | 80 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Iowa | 75 | March | Dec–Mar |
| District of Columbia | 68 | February | Dec–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 65 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Kentucky | 61 | May | Dec–Jun |
| North Dakota | 45 | April | Mar–May |
| Georgia | 34 | January | Jan–Aug |
| South Carolina | 17 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Florida | 10 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 5 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Mississippi | 5 | December | Dec–Dec |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
Mallard
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Bufflehead
American Wigeon
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Duck
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Common Merganser?
Nationally, March has the most observations, with the main season from December to September.
Where is Common Merganser most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Pennsylvania.