Definition

Noun: * A widely distributed merganser (Mergus serrator) of America and Europe; the red-breasted merganser. It is a type of diving duck characterized by a long, slender, serrated bill adapted for catching fish, a shaggy crest, and in males, a dark green head and a rusty-red breast.

Usage

• The term "mergus serrator" is the scientific (Latin) binomial name for the red-breasted merganser. It is used primarily in formal, academic, ornithological, and taxonomic contexts to precisely identify this specific species.
• In everyday language, the common name "red-breasted merganser" is almost always used instead.

Examples

• Ornithologists noted a large wintering flock of along the coast.
• The study compared the fishing efficiency of with that of the common merganser.

Advanced Usage

• The genus name refers to the group of diving ducks known as mergansers. The species epithet comes from Latin, meaning "sawyer," referring to the saw-like serrations on the bird's bill which help it grip slippery fish.

Variants and Related Words

• Red-breasted merganser: The standard common English name for .
• Merganser: The general term for any duck of the genus or the subfamily Merginae, characterized by a slender, serrated bill.
• Sawbill: A colloquial name for mergansers, referring to the serrated edge of their bill.

Synonyms

• Red-breasted merganser

Different Meanings

• As a scientific binomial, has only one meaning: it refers exclusively to the biological species known as the red-breasted merganser. It is not used idiomatically or in other contexts.

Noun

1. widely distributed merganser of America and Europe