merganser (redirected from sawbill)

merganser: see duck.

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merganser

 or fish duck

Any species of the diving duck genus Mergus. Essentially freshwater birds, they are classified as a sea duck (tribe Mergini). Mergansers have a long body and a narrow, serrated, hooked bill for catching fish. The males of all but the common merganser, or goosander (M. merganser), are crested. The common merganser, the hooded merganser (M. cucullatus), the red-breasted merganser (M. serrator), and the smew (M. albellus), a small, compact merganser with a short bill, live in northern regions; the only southern species is the Brazilian merganser (M. octosetaceus). Mergansers are called trash ducks because their flesh is rank. See also shelduck.

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merganser

any of several typically crested large marine diving ducks of the genus Mergus, having a long slender hooked bill with serrated edges

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merganser [mər′gan·sər]

(vertebrate zoology)

Any of several species of diving water fowl composing a distinct subfamily of Anatidae and characterized by a serrate bill adapted for catching fish.