Brazilian Merganser
Mergus octosetaceus
CRCritically Endangered
- Family
- Ducks, Swans, and Geese (Anatidae)
- Order
- Anseriformes
Overview
The Brazilian merganser (Mergus octosetaceus) is a South American diving duck in the Mergus genus.
It is one of the most threatened waterfowl species in the world, with possibly fewer than 250 birds in the wild and a small number kept in captivity in Brazil and Czechia. It has a long, sharp-edged beak with a great number of tooth-like edges.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Forest rivers, now mostly in a few sites in southeastern Brazil, at least formerly also in Paraguay and Misiones (northeastern Argentina); rare.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Continents
Countries
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Brazilian merganser
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
