Hi Lance, et al.

Actually our Common Mergansers are not Goosanders ...

Within the species Mergus merganser, our North American subspecies 
Mergus merganser americanus is known by the common name "Common 
Merganser." The common name of "Goosander" applies to the two 
Eurasian subspecies M. merganser merganser (Europe) and M. merganser 
orientalis (Asia). The "Goosander" does reach North America in 
western Alaska and is a candidate for a future split.

The differences between our Common Merganser and the two Goosander 
forms are primarily bill shape-related and upper wing plumage differences.

Sorry ... more than you (n)ever wanted to know, I'm sure ...

Phil


At 20:27 03/09/2008, lance biechele wrote:
>Hi Gerald & Laura,
>      In this erratic time frame of changing the common names for our
>   birds, isn't it GRAND that we can at least refer to common mergansers
>   as "Goosander(s)."  Still a popular name for them in Europe!

==================================
Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
                 mailto:[log in to unmask]
==================================