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Common Merganser : Common Merganser Payirpak Among the many fish-eating ducks of the Lower Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta this one is by far the most handsome. It is the largest of all inland ducks in North America, and its black back and dark green head are in striking contrast to its mostly white body. If you look at its spikelike red bill closely, it has backward projecting "teeth with which it grasps and hangs on to its slippery prey. Its streamlined body allows it to swim and dive swiftly in hot pursuit of a variety of fishes living in shallow but clear freshwater lakes and rivers in wild forested country. It propels itself underwater with both feet stroking together. Since it avoids dense marshes and muddy waters, it is found mostly on the inner reaches of the Y-K Delta from early spring to late fall. I often saw it near Marshall while I canoed on clearwater lakes, rivers and sloughs. Payirpak is one of three species of merganser found in the Delta, including the Red-breasted merganser and the Smew, which I've seen off the coast of Hooper Bay in winter. During a recent trip to Mongolia I also saw the Common merganser there. A number of years ago I came across it in many different parts of Europe, including northern Scandinavia. In European and Asian bird books it is referred to as the "Goosander," because of its large gooselike size. Its scientific name, Mergus merganser, means "plunging gooselike diver," and its English name follows from that. The Yupik name, Payirpak, derives from Payiq, meaning, Red-breasted merganser. Payiq probably refers to the croaking sound made by both birds, plus "pak," meaning, big. Since it is a fish-eating bird, it arrives on its nesting ground in the Delta as soon as there is open water, and it remains in the area until just before freezeup. When its hormones start kicking in the male courts a mate by swimming very rapidly in circles around her, suddenly stretching its neck upward pointing its bill skyward, and giving a soft "uig-a" sound "reminiscent of the twanging of a guitar string," according to one observer. The female selects the nest site and builds the nest, usually near water in some sort of large tree or other cavity. She constructs the nest of weeds, grasses, rootlets and down from her own breast. She is a prolific mother and may lay up to 13 buff-colored eggs. If a suitable nest site is not available, she may lay her eggs in another female's nest. If you've ever wondered why there are so many young mergansers scurrying along the top of the water with their mom in the lead, this may be part of the reason. Incubation is by the female only and sometimes lasts as long as 35 days. Unlike other species of duck that leave the nest almost immediately after they hatch, merganser young may remain in the nest for a day or two after hatching. Young hatched in tree cavities then climb to the edge of the entrance and jump to the ground. Like so many other duck species, the male Common merganser leaves the scene as soon as his mate begins incubating the eggs. He never knows his offspring. The female tends her own young, and sometimes those of other females who have deserted their brood, for several weeks. Since the young learn to feed themselves soon after they leave the nest, even if abandoned early by their mother they may survive quite well. In any case, they learn early how to scurry across the surface of the water and to dive underwater when necessary, either to feed or to escape a predator. It's good they're fast learners because it takes them usually 65-70 days before they're big enough and strong enough to finally take their first flight. They're a little clumsy at this in the beginning, but eventually they get it together and use the advantage of their streamlined body to power themselves at breakneck speeds above the rivers and lakes of the Y-K Delta. The Common merganser is another of those unique birds that has so many common names: American goosander, American sheldrake, big sheldrake, buff-breasted merganser, buff-breasted sheldrake, dun diver, fish-duck, fishing duck, freshwater sheldrake, goosander, greater merganser, morocco- head, pond sheldrake, sawbill, winter sheldrake and break horn. When you see this handsome duck swimming on a river or lake or clearwater slough, watch it closely for a while and you may be lucky enough to witness it do something very odd. Like a submarine, it might begin to sink slowly and quietly into the water before it finally disappears from view. It is one of the few ducks that does this. I only know of two other species on the Delta that can, the Horned and Red-necked grebes. More about them later. » List of Yupik Birds

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