Ohio BIRDER RESOURCES PUBLICATIONS Photo Salon Spring 05 Red-breasted Merganser Part 1: Courtship Part II: Fishing Resting Profiles: Male Resting Profiles: Female

The setting:

These images were taken at E 72nd in Cleveland OH from 30 Jan to 3 Feb. These birds were fishing the outlet from a local power plant taking advantage of fish gathering in the warm waters.

This female exhibits especially dark plumage for this late in the season. The solid gray chest and the bright white facial mark have been retained from juvenile plumage.

Compare this adult female Red-breasted Merganser (below) with the dark female at right.

More typical of adult females are birds with only a margin of white below the eye leading to the bill and a conspicuously pale chest.

cheers
Vic Fazio
Shaker Hts, OH

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