Smew (Mergellus albellus)
Flevoland, Netherlands (first 2 photos)
Captive Bird, WWT Barnes, London (next 2 photos) ...
Smew
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Smew (Mergellus albellus)
No photo of the Smew available.
The Smew is from the order Anseriformes. Anseriformes are birds, with over 150 species belonging to this order. The majority of these are waterfowl such as ducks, geese, screamers and swans.
Smew Female - The female Smew has a gray body and a white throat and face contrasting sharply with a dark brown cap and nape.
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SMEW or WHITE NUN, Mergus Albellus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 126.
MERGUS ALBELLUS, Bonap. Syn., p. 398.
SMEW or WHITE NUN, Nutt. Man. vol. ii. p. 467.
SMEW or WHITE NUN, Mergus Albellus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 350.
The smew is a small compact diving duck with a delicate bill. The male is white with a black mask and a black back, the female is grey with a reddish-brown head and white cheek. In flight, it shows black and white wings.
Smew Mergellus albellus Found: Europe, Asia
Photographed by Dick Daniels at Sylvan Heights
1 - 4) Female 5 - 8) Male
Genus Clangula - 1 species ...
Smew
A female smew has joined our male in the Outdoor Flight Exhibit.
Golden Pheasant ...
The Smew is a rather rare visitor to the U.S., and is not even shown in Sibley's Guide. Check your National Geographic to find this handsome male, the smallest Merganser, and a Eurasian species.
The Smew (Mergellus albellus) also falls outside the genus Mergus, so far in fact that it has been known to interbreed with Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula).
The genus name Gavia was the Latin term for the Smew (Mergellus albellus). This small sea-duck is quite unrelated to loons and just happens to be another black-and-white seabird which swims and dives for fish.
The display also contains Crested and Least Auklets along with a pair of Smew and Spectacled Eider. Certainly makes a trip to the zoo worth while for any birder.
Photo by Emmalee Tarry using a Cannon Powershot.
Mergus albellus - Smew
Mergus serrator - Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus merganser - Common Merganser (photo)
Mergus cucullatus - Hooded Merganser
Oxyura
Oxyura leucocephala - White-headed Duck ...
They include the goosander and the smaller red-breasted merganser, both circumpolar in distribution, and the North American hooded merganser, similar to the Old World smew.
 See also: Duck, Merganser, Flamingo, Eagle, Purple
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