ML646973642

Observation details

Extremely rare inland and in December. This hen-plumaged bird was found earlier today by Wally Sumner. When I arrived it was on the far side of the river below the dam. Medium-sized merganser with tawny head, grayish body, and dull whitish breast. The throat and upper neck were duller tawny-buff and showed weak contrast with the upper breast. At rest, a small patch of white showed in the secondaries. The bill was rather slender and not robust like Common Merganser. The chin and throat were clearly not contrasting white, and the head color was not as deep and coppery as a similarly plumaged Common.