Page 118 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Mergellus albellus
Smew dark grey body brown cap rounded blackish eye patch
white
appear in winter
cheeks and white crown
large white
areas on wings
more white
on back in
late winter
outstretched FEMALE
head
MALE (WINTER)
large white white crest
forebody
droops over JUVENILE (MALE)
black nape
fine black lines on
flanks and foreparts
white head with
black eye patch
FEMALE
IN FLIGHT
largely white
plumage

MALE (WINTER)
n the UK, this is a scarce bird, found in small groups FLIGHT: flies fast and low; broad white foreparts
Iat most, but in the Low Countries and the Baltic, and outstretched neck very obvious.
hundreds sometimes feed together in very active, busy
flocks.The white males are usually much scarcer than
females and immatures, collectively known as
“redheads”. Even where there are one or two males in
a flock on a complex of gravel pits, they can be quite
hard to spot as the birds tend to fly around a lot.They
particularly associate with Goldeneyes and may also be
found with Tufted Ducks.
VOICE Silent in winter.
NESTING Tree holes, often of Black Woodpecker, near
water, or in nest boxes; 4–6 eggs; 1 brood;April–June. STUNNING DRAKE
FEEDING Dives often from surface, eating small fish The winter male is one of the most attractive of European wildfowl. In
and insect larvae. summer, the male Smew looks like the female.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in far NE Europe by lakes
plainer brown larger white GOOSANDER 2 and rivers in forested areas. In
body similar to 2;
face winter, common in large, mobile
see p.117
flocks on Baltic and Low Country
much coasts, scarce on inland waters
bigger
west to Great Britain, when a few
turn up on pits and reservoirs.
RUDDY DUCK 3
winter, similar to 2; Seen in the UK
see p.119 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 36–44cm (14–17 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 55–69cm (22–27in) Weight 500–800g (18–29oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan Up to 8 years Status Vulnerable
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