Smew
Mergellus albellus
Generally uncommon and fairly local small diving duck. Frequents lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. Shy, often found alone or in small groups; frequently kept in European waterfowl collections. Both sexes have bushy crest. Striking male mostly white with black face mask and fine black lines on sides of breast and flanks. Female has dark rusty brown head with big white throat and cheek patch. In flight appears strikingly black-and-white.
识别特征
The drake smew, with its 'cracked ice' or 'panda' appearance, is unmistakable, and looks very black-and-white in flight. The females and immature males are grey birds with chestnut foreheads and crowns, and can be confused at a distance with the ruddy duck; they are often known as "redhead" smew. It has oval white wing-patches in flight. The smew's bill has a hooked tip and serrated edges, which help it catch fish when it dives for them.<p>The smew is 38–44 cm (15–17 in) long, with a wingspan of 56–69 cm, and a weight 450–650 g.
分类信息
Genus: Mergellus; Family: Anatidae; Order: Anseriformes.
- 学名
- Mergellus albellus
- 命名信息
- (Linnaeus, 1758)
- 目
- Anseriformes
- 科
- Anatidae
- 属
- Mergellus
分布与栖息地
This species breeds in the northern taiga of Europe and the Palearctic. It needs trees for breeding. The smew lives on fish-rich lakes and slow rivers. As a migrant, it leaves its breeding areas and winters on sheltered coasts or inland lakes of the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, northern Germany and the Low Countries, with a small number reaching Great Britain (for example, at Dungeness), mostly at regular sites. Vagrants have been recorded in North America. On lakes it prefers areas around the edges, often under small trees. The smew breeds in May and lays 7–11 cream-colored eggs, incubated by the female for 26–28 days. Ducklings leave the nest soon after hatching and learn to fly within about 10 weeks.<p>It nests in tree holes, such as old woodpecker nests. It is a shy bird and flushes easily when disturbed.<p>The smew is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. It is not considered threatened on the IUCN Red List, though its population is decreasing.
- 繁殖区
- PAL : subarctic from n Scandinavia to Kamchatka (se Russia)
- 非繁殖区
- to w, c, se Europe, c Asia, Japan, Korean Pen. and se China
- 迁徙
- Complete migrants
行为
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
保护状况
Population trend: declining.
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
其他鸟类
Southern Hill Myna
Gracula indica
Glossy black myna of southern India and Sri Lanka. Note white wing patches, bright orange bill, and yellow head wattles. Inhabits foothill forests, where it is most often encountered high up in the canopy in pairs or small flocks. Gives various croaks and screams, but is less vocally accomplished than the very similar Common Hill Myna, which does not overlap in range.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis clemenciae
Very large for a hummingbird; size alone separates from many other species. Males and females similar: gray below, dusky-greenish back, brown rump, and large dark tail with prominent white corners. Also note white eyebrow and short white mustache stripe. Male has bright blue throat patch, difficult to see unless the light hits it just right. Uncommon in canyons and mountains with mixed pine-oak forests, primarily in Mexico but barely extending into the U.S. Very similar to Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem, especially if you can’t see the throat color. Blue-throated is slightly larger and paler overall with larger white (not gray) tips on the tail feathers; females are plainer, lacking the buffy tones of Amethyst-throated. Also compare with Rivoli’s Hummingbird, especially females; Blue-throated is shorter-billed and plainer (less speckled) on the underparts.
Scarce Swift
Schoutedenapus myoptilus
Medium-sized, uniformly dark swift with a long, thin tail. Overall coloration is pale gray with a paler throat, but often looks blackish when seen in flight overhead. Flight is fluttering and not very strong. Found over a wide variety of habitats at middle and high elevations. Usually in flocks, sometimes mixed with other swift species. The call is a mellow, chirping trill. Similar to African Palm-Swift, but darker. Very similar in shape to White-rumped Swift, but lacks white throat and rump patches. Can be mistaken for other swift species such as African and Common Swifts, but has slimmer body, longer and slimmer tail, and less powerful flight style.
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