The goosander is a medium-sized duck and a member of a group called the 'sawbills' because of their long, narrow bills with saw-like 'teeth' which are good for gripping fish. A long, streamlined bird, it is perfectly shaped for swimming after fish. Goosanders are gregarious birds, forming flocks of thousands in some parts of Europe.
How to identify
Male goosanders are white, with dark green heads, black backs and long, red, hooked bills. The white sides and breast sometimes have a pink glow. Females are grey, with a gingery or reddish-brown head and a white throat.
Did you know?
Goosander nest in holes in trees along the riverbank. They first bred in in the UK in 1871, building up numbers in Scotland and moving south to northern England and Wales. It is now found in the South West too.
