Duck of the Week: Brazilian Merganser
A critically endangered duck in South America.
The Brazilian Merganser is critically endangered. Experts believe fewer than 250 members of the species are alive today.
This diving duck once had a wide range throughout much of South America, but today exists in sparse pockets across Brazil and one location in Argentina.
Male and female Brazilian Mergansers are similar in appearance. They are thin and dark, with a dark green hood and an especially long crest.
The primary factor in this merganser’s endangerment is the loss of their habitat due to human activity, including deforestation. Conservation groups are working to find new habitats where the Brazilian Merganser can thrive and rebuild their population.