Common name

Scaly-sided merganser

Species name

Mergus squamatus

ARKive fact

The breeding system of the scaly-sided merganser, a relative of the mandarin duck, is a mixture of monogamy and polygamy and, unusually amongst ducks, breeding trios of one male and two females are sometimes formed.

Conservation status

Endangered

Distribution

Breeds in south-east Russia, North Korea and north-east China. Some birds spend the winter in south-east Russia, but most are thought to winter in central and southern China.

Habitat

Breeding occurs along the middle reaches of well-forested, fast-flowing mountain rivers and rapid streams, below around 900 metres above sea level, where the bird is largely confined to primary forests with an abundance of potential nest holes. The non-breeding season is spent on larger lakes and more sluggish rivers and lagoons.

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