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Photo Salon
Spring 05
Red-breasted Merganser
Part I:
Courtship sequences
Ohio
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See also:Part II: Fishing | Resting Profiles: Male | Resting Profiles: Female |
It is early spring on the south shore of Lake Erie; here off E. 72nd St. in Cleveland OH 3 March 2005. While many of the local puddle ducks (genus Anas)) have paired up, now is the peak time for active courtship displays among Red-breasted Mergansers. Along with Common Goldeneye, which are going through their own courtship displays at this time nearby, the Red-breasted Merganser engages in one of the more physical displays among local waterfowl. As seen below, it is the norm for adult males in courting splendor to far outnumber the largely disinterested females.
With their alignment, respective to each other's positions, males begin the action.
Another sequence in side profile.
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