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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
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Status in UK: (A)  Winter Visitor
Subspecies: Monotypic
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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
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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
Survey Results:
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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
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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
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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)
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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

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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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