Smew

Mergellus albellus (Linnaeus, 1758)

		male female
2022-05-01 Kuzbass 2014-05-31 Boyarka, Kolyvanskiy Raion, Novosibirskaya Oblast.	© Dmitry Dubikovskiy © Sergey Pisarevskiy

Description

Dominant color of male Smew in breeding plumage is white. From bill-base to eye the broad greenish-tinged black strip passes; same color strip cross passes the nape, behind the extended feathers formed crest. Two narrow black strips are on each breast-flank. Back, outer shoulders, greater wing coverts anf flight feathers are black. Uppertail is dark-grey with pale tips of feathers. Flanks of body are with narrow grey wave strips. Tail is grey. Female has rusty-brown crown and rear-neck, white throat and fore-neck, almost black lores. There is small crest on nape. All upperparts are grey, darker on mantle, shoulders are browner. Craw, flanks and belly are white with not clear grey-brownish mottles; undertail is clear white. Wings as on male. Juveniles are similar on female, but all color are dim and underparts are almost dark-grey. Male in summer is undifferent from female. Bill is leaden, legs are grayish with darker web. Eyes are bluish-white in male and brownish in female and juvenile. Sizes: wing 175-205 mm, tail 67-80 mm, tarsus 28-34 mm, bill 25-30 mm. Weight: 450 - 750 gr.

Distribution

Forest zone, and firest parts in forest-tundra, southern tundra, and forest-steppe. Sometimes nests more south, in forest "islands", but usually only migrant here. Common only locally in northern taiga, usually innumerous.

Biology

Appears on small patches of open water in April, in pairs or small flocks, and migration ends mid - end May. Breeds in separate pairs. Nest is built in tree holes, lined with plenty of down, not far above ground. Clutches of 8-11 eggs, probably in June as small chicks observed in early July. Autumn migration from September to November when lakes freeze - most numerous movements of 50 - 100 birds in late September. Small numbers winter in watee pools of the south of Siberia.

References

В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014.