This species is larger than the red-breasted merganser, and is one of the largest of our ducks.

It is one of the last to migrate south, and is more common than the red-breasted merganser on inland waters.

Professor Ansted includes the Red-breasted Merganser in his list, but only marks it as occurring in Guernsey.

Apart from the Sockeye salmon and the Red-breasted Merganser ducks that feed on their eggs, we should see beaver, otter, weasel, deer and eagles.