Our patient of the week is a beautiful Red-breasted Merganser in care at our Los Angeles center! Winter migrants, like this merganser, are flying south for warmer weather and that means we are seeing more of these migrants in care.
Mergansers are large diving ducks with long, thin bills that are lined with serrated edges to help them capture fish. Both male and female Red-breasted Mergansers have a distinctive double crest of plumes at the back of their heads.
This bird was rescued earlier this week by Santa Monica Animal Control. It could not fly, was weak and emaciated. In a few days it will be ready for release.
How will you help a bird today?
Photo by Bill Steinkamp