Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) is in the Ducks, Geese, and Swans family (Anatidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 30,749 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in March.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Red-breasted Merganser: observations by month (U.S.)
About Red-breasted Merganser
The red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) is a diving duck, one of the sawbills. The genus name is a Latin word used by Pliny and other Roman authors to refer to an unspecified waterbird, and serrator is a sawyer from Latin serra, "saw".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Red-breasted Merganser by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5,188 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Illinois | 3,518 | March | Dec–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 2,881 | February | Nov–Apr |
| New York | 2,235 | March | Dec–Apr |
| Washington | 1,825 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Florida | 1,675 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Ohio | 1,299 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Texas | 1,227 | December | Nov–Apr |
| New Jersey | 1,052 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 990 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Michigan | 972 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Maine | 632 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Maryland | 602 | March | Dec–Apr |
| Virginia | 573 | March | Dec–May |
| Minnesota | 558 | April | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 534 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Connecticut | 519 | February | Nov–Apr |
| Alaska | 417 | June | Dec–Jul |
| Oregon | 391 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 377 | March | Dec–Apr |
| Delaware | 266 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Idaho | 259 | April | Mar–Apr |
| North Carolina | 243 | March | Nov–May |
| Utah | 238 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 229 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Colorado | 210 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Alabama | 199 | January | Dec–Mar |
| South Carolina | 169 | March | Dec–May |
| New Hampshire | 138 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 135 | November | Nov–Apr |
| Arizona | 121 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Vermont | 117 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Mississippi | 110 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Tennessee | 101 | March | Feb–May |
| Louisiana | 100 | December | Nov–Apr |
| Montana | 80 | April | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 73 | March | Feb–May |
| Georgia | 64 | April | Nov–Apr |
| Kansas | 59 | April | Mar–May |
| South Dakota | 54 | April | Feb–Apr |
| Iowa | 49 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Nebraska | 44 | March | Mar–May |
| Kentucky | 42 | March | Feb–Apr |
| New Mexico | 39 | November | Nov–Dec |
| West Virginia | 36 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Wyoming | 32 | April | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 31 | January | Dec–May |
| Arkansas | 24 | March | Mar–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 16 | January | Jan–Apr |
| North Dakota | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
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 Red-breasted Merganser?
Nationally, March has the most observations, with the main season from November to April.
Where is Red-breasted Merganser most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Illinois, Massachusetts.