Merginae

Sea Ducks
Missing image
Merginae.smew.arp.750pix.jpg
Smew


Smew (male)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Anseriformes
Family:Anatidae
Subfamily:Merginae
Genera

Polysticta
Somateria
Histrionicus
Camptorhynchus
Melanitta
Clangula
Bucephala
Mergellus
Lophodytes
Mergus

The seaducks, Merginae, form a subfamily of the duck, goose and swan family of birds, Anatidae.

As the name implies, most but not all, are essentially marine outside the breeding season. Many species have developed specialized salt glands to allow them to tolerate salt water, but these have not yet developed in young birds. Some of the mergansers prefer riverine habitats.

All but two of the 20 species in this group occupy habitats in far northern latitudes.

The fish-eating members of this group, such as the mergansers and Smew, have serrated edges to their bills to help them grip their prey. These are therefore often known as "sawbills".

Other seaducks take molluscs or crustaceans from the sea floor.

There are twenty species in ten genera.

Subfamily Merginae

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