Merganser raft

Just a short video taken today at the Indian River Lagoon in Canaveral National Seashore down at Parking Lot 5. Red-breasted mergansers, known for their striking appearance and agile swimming abilities, experience notable changes during the winter months. In colder regions, these aquatic birds often migrate to coastal areas where open water is more readily available. Their plumage is characterized by a distinctive reddish-brown breast and a long, slender body. During this season, they primarily feed on fish, using their sharp, serrated bills to catch their slippery prey. Socially, red-breasted mergansers may be found in small flocks in the north, but here in the relatively warm climes of the south, they appear to be much more social as seen in this raft of well over 40 birds. While superficially similar to Common mergansers, the Red breasted bergs are the “default” merganser here in winter. These birds prefer brackish or salt water and are quite happy to be spending their winter months here on the lagoon.