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Smew Mergellus albellus [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Anseriformes
Family:
Anatidae
BTO Codes:
SY , SMEW.
EURING No:
2200
Number in Britain:
370 birds (Winter)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
3 Concern, most not in Europe; Declining
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
Monotypic
.
Length:
41 cm
Wingspan:
62 cm
Weight:
M: 700 g F: 580 g
Scientific name from:
from Merganser
and L.: albus =white
World Distribution:
BREEDS n Eurasia, WINTERS: south to Mediterranean Sea, India, e China
Habitat:
Lakes, ponds, on migration also seacoasts
Diet:
Summer, mostly insects, winter, mostly fish, mainly by diving
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
Atlas Maps
(Help with the New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Winter:
370 individuals
in 1994-99
 
First Record:
1666
[Fossil evidence from
Middle Pleistocene, c. 500,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
1300 to 2 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
53 x 38 mm
Egg Weight:
42.0 g (of which 9 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
0
Clutch Size:
7 - 9 eggs
Incubation:
26 - 28 days
by the:
Female
Fledging:
Unavailable
as:
Precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Does not breed in Britain, or too few Nest Records
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
0
Adult Survival:
No data
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
Typical Lifespan:
No data
Maximum Recorded Age:
Too few birds ringed
Biometrics
Ring Size:
Check with Ringing Unit
Wing Length
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Sěolta-bhreac
Welsh:
Lleian Wen
Danish:
Lille skallesluger
Dutch:
Nonnetje
Finnish:
Uivelo
French:
Harle piette
German:
Zwergsäger
Hungarian:
Kis bukó
Icelandic:
Hvítönd
Irish:
Síolta Gheal
Italian:
Pesciaiola
Norwegian:
Lappfiskand
Polish:
Bielaczek
Portuguese:
Merganso-pequeno
Spanish:
Serreta chica
Swedish:
Salskrake
Local Names: White Nun (m) Redhead (f)
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Kear, J 2005 Ducks, geese and swans Oxford University Press
[598.48 KEA]
See Also:
Wikipedia entry
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
Selected scientific papers published 1980-2005
Find more papers on Google Scholar
Find more papers on Scirus
BirdFacts home | BTO Home Email: birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as: Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.22, Oct 2008). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)
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