Mergus merganser (common mergansers or goosanders) occur in both
the Nearctic and Palearctic regions. Although their abundance
has been decreasing in North America, they are still the most
abundant of the mergansers found there. In North America, common
mergansers may breed as far north as southern Alaska and Canada.
Some occur year-round in the northern and western United States.
North American birds winter in New England, midwestern and
southern states, and the Pacific coast of the U.S. and Canada.
Common mergansers in the Palearctic region typically breed in
northern Europe, Scandinavia, throughout Russia, and in much of
northern Asia. Populations in Europe winter along the coasts of
Scandinavia and northern Europe, as well as parts of the
northern Mediterranean coast and north Africa. In Asia common
mergansers winter in southern Asia, northern India, Japan,
China, and Korea. (Brewer, et al., 1991; Mallory and Metz, 1998;
Terres, 1980; Udvardy, 1977) Common mergansers prefer to live in
wooded areas along s