Auckland Islands Merganser

This duck was similar in size to the Red-breasted Merganser. The adult male had a dark reddish-brown head, crest and neck, with bluish black mantle and tail and slate grey wings. The female was slightly smaller with a shorter crest.

The Auckland Islands Merganser is classified as Extinct (EX), there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.

The Auckland Islands Merganser, Mergus australis, was a typical merganser which is now extinct. This duck was similar in size to the Red-breasted Merganser. The adult male had a dark reddish-brown head, crest and neck, with bluish black mantle and tail and slate grey wings. The female was slightly smaller with a shorter crest. More

The Auckland Islands Merganser (Mergus australis), was a typical merganser which is now extinct. This bird was first collected when a French expedition visited the Auckland Islands in 1840. Subsequent fossil discoveries suggest that this merganser was previously resident on the South Island and Stewart Island in New Zealand. There have also been fossils found of related subspecies on the Chatham Islands. This duck was similar in size to the Red-breasted Merganser. More

* Auckland Islands Merganser, Mergus australis (extinct, c.1902) * Common Merganser or Goosander, Mergus merganser * Brazilian Merganser, Mergus octosetaceus * Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator * Chinese Merganser, Mergus squamatus Some fossil members of this genus have been described: * Mergus miscellus is known from the Middle Miocene Calvert Formation (Barstovian, c.14 million years ago) of Virginia, USA. More

The Auckland Islands merganser was the smallest of all, weighing just under a kilogram. It also had the longest bill, and although its wings were reduced it could still fly. It was eliminated throughout most of its range by Polynesians before European contact, surviving only on the inhospitable, subantarctic Auckland Islands south of New Zealand. This was probably marginal habitat, and may have supported just a few hundred birds. More

Auckland Islands Merganser Mergus australis (extinct) Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Common Merganser or Goosander Mergus merganser Chinese Merganser Mergus squamatus Page1 Above Images From The U.S. More

Auckland Islands Merganser (Mergus australis) is now extinct (Kear and Scarlett 1970). A few New Zealand Grey Ducks (Anas poecilorhyncha) nest, and Mallards (Anas pla- tyrhynchos), which were introduced in New Zealand, recently have pioneered on the island, and some hybridize with the Grey Ducks. The cluster of islands off the northeastern tip of Auckland Island (Fig. 1) harbor the largest population of Flightless Teal, and any one could provide a suitable study site. More

* Aucklandsäger / Auckland Islands Merganser / Mergus australis (ausgestorben) * Mittelsäger / Red-breasted Merganser / Mergus serrator * Gänsesäger / Common Merganser oder Goosander / Mergus merganser * Schuppensäger / Chinese Merganser / Mergus squamatus Der Aucklandsäger war dem Mittelsäger sehr ähnlich. Der männliche erwachsene Aucklandsäger hatte einen dunklen, rot-braunen Kopf und Hals; außerdem besaß er einen blau-schwarzen Körper und Schwanz, sowie graue Flügel. Das weibliche Exemplar des Aucklandsägers ist ein wenig kleiner und besitzt weniger ausgeprägten Kopfschmuck. More