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Glite Dictionary
Mergus serrator

Mergus serrator

9.9
A diving duck with a spiky crest and a thin, saw-edged bill that eats fish
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : merganso de pecho rojo
  • The Mergus serrator is recognizable by its spiky crest and slender, serrated bill.

Examples

  • The feeding habits of Mergus serrator include diving for fish in both freshwater and marine environments.

  • Have you ever spotted a Mergus serrator in the wild?

  • During migration, flocks of Mergus serrator can often be seen along the coastal waters.

  • The Mergus serrator is often seen diving for fish.

  • During migration, flocks of Mergus serrator can often be seen along the coastal waters.

  • The Mergus serrator is recognizable by its spiky crest and slender, serrated bill.

  • The feeding habits of Mergus serrator include diving for fish in both freshwater and marine environments.

Synonyms

red-breasted merganser
vsMergus serrator
  • UK
9.9

A slim diving duck with a shaggy crest and reddish brown breast

is the same species but noted as more widely distributed also occurring in Asia

Surface Forms

Mergus serrator singular

Morphology

Mergus + serrator

This is a Latin scientific binomial (a proper name) rather than a compositional English phrase, so its specific meaning (the red-breasted merganser species) is not derivable from everyday English knowledge. While 'Mergus' names a duck genus, 'serrator' is not a standard English word here, and learners would not reliably infer the species-level meaning from the parts.

Etymology

Mergus serrator comes from Latin words: Mergus meaning 'diving bird' and serrator meaning 'saw-like'. So the name paints a simple picture of a duck that dives for fish and uses a saw-edged bill to hold its prey.