Goosander
| Irish Name: | Síolta mhór |
| Scientific name: | Mergus merganser |
| Bird Family: | Ducks |
amber
Conservation status
Conservation status
Status
Resident at larger lakes in Counties Wicklow and Donegal. Rare winter visitor throughout Ireland.
Identification
Large, long-bodied, with a long narrow red bill ending in a hook. Swimming birds often retract their long necks. Adult males largely white with glossy green-black neck and head. Back largely black. Females with dark red-brown head, though with a white throat patch, greyish body.
Voice
Male call is deep muffled 'krroo-krraa'.
Diet
Goosanders feed largely on small and medium sized fish, and occasionally larger fish such as Pike.
Breeding
Breed on freshwater lakes and pools and winter on large unfrozen lakes and brackish lagoons and occasionally on coastal estuaries. The most recent breeding records in Ireland come from County Wicklow, where one pair was confirmed breeding in 1994, and annual breeding has since been deemed likely, though not confirmed
Wintering
Irish birds appear to be largely resident. Birds from Continental Europe can occasionally found along coastal areas in winter.
Rare in Ireland. Avonmore River and Glendalough in Co. Wicklow play host to the only confirmed breeding birds.
Makes Southerly migrations in Winter, arriving from Scandinavia. Found on freshwater. Belfast Lough in County Down and Lough Tay & Dan in County Wicklow are amongst the most regularly used wintering areas.
