Merganser, Common

Common Mergansers on Giles Pond in Aurora

This duck is, in fact, common throughout Maine in the summer and year round within about 40 miles of the coast from York County to Hancock County.  Lakes are their preferred habitat. Long at 22-27 inches, the common merganser has a pointed, orange bill with jagged edges to catch slippery fish.  The male’s dark green…

Eider, Common

“Best known for its soft, warm down”, the large diving sea-duck common eider, according to Audubon*, is “most easily observed because of its tendency to remain close to shore and its relative abundance, especially in northeastern North America. This cold ocean inhabitant is the largest duck in the Northern Hemisphere.” While this bird’s range is…