merganser

noun mer·gan·ser \ (ˌ)mər-ˈgan(t)-sər \

|Updated on: 17 May 2018

Definition of merganser

: any of various fish-eating diving ducks (especially genus Mergus) with a slender bill hooked at the end and serrated along the margins and usually a crested head — see common merganser

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Recent Examples of merganser from the Web

Ring-necked ducks, buffleheads and hooded mergansers arrive for the winter.

— Houston Chronicle, "Top birding spots around Texas," 10 May 2018
But 50 yards to the north, mergansers and goldeneyes dove for fish in an open circle of water.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Wisconsin's Lake Michigan harbors host world-class ice fishing for trout," 13 Jan. 2018
Lake Davidson gave up six red-breasted mergansers and a greater scaup, both nice ducks to find.

— taylor piephoff, charlotteobserver, "Birders find local rarities at neighborhood ponds, Lake Norman | Charlotte Observer," 11 Jan. 2018
For opening day, our six-member camp took 14 ducks, including seven woodies, five mallards, one blue-winged teal and one hooded merganser.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Sultry weather, moderate duck flights mark Wisconsin's north zone opener," 30 Sep. 2017
Some attractions are a snapping turtle that likes to sun itself on a log, a variety of fish in the lake and such fish-eating birds as herons, kingfishers and mergansers.

— myrna petlicki, chicagotribune.com, "Treat mom to a visit with 'Birds of Prey'," 11 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'merganser.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.