Auckland merganser
Auckland merganser in LOST ZOO
The Auckland mergansers were found on larger lakes and mostly along the coastline of New Zealand. They are the only merganser species in the South Pacific region.
Characteristic for the Auckland merganser is its long and thin bill with the serrated edges which help to grip the bird’s prey. The lower bill is yellow-orange and the upper bill and the tips are black.
Adult males have a dark reddish-brown head, crest and neck, a bluish black mantle and tail and slate grey wings. The females are slightly smaller with a shorter crest.
The Auckland merganser is an excellent diver and hunts on small fish and aquatic invertebrates.
The distribution of the Auckland merganser was originally not only restricted to the Sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands, but the species was found also on the Northern and Southern main islands of New Zealand and the Stewart Island.
Body length: about 58 cm
Body weight: 0,9 kg
Nest: The pair stayed together for the whole year. Breeding season was November-December. They nested in holes in cliffs and steep, high banks and laid normally 5 eggs.
Habitat: Most of the Auckland mergansers lived along the shoreline, but could be found also at large inland lakes. Excellent diver, but because of their short wings the birds could not fly very well.
Extinction: First described in 1841, but already at that time only found on the Sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands. Habitat destruction, import of larger mammals and hunting for scientific collections caused the bird’s extinction in 1902.
