also: うみあいさ
red-breasted merganser
A species of diving duck (Mergus serrator) found in coastal waters. The name is a standard ornithological term.
The red-breasted merganser can sometimes be seen along the coasts of Japan in winter.
Hiragana spelling is also used, though katakana is more common for species names.
Rarely used kanji form; Learners will almost always encounter the kana spellings.
The name ウミアイサ literally means 'sea merganser' (海 + 秋沙). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it distinguishes this marine species from the common merganser (カワアイサ).