Species:

Smew (Mergellus albellus)

Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

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Length (cm):
38-44
53-89
Wingspan (cm):
55-69
70-90
Weight (gram):
500-800
750-1700
Size group:
Crow-size
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

A small and compact duck, more resembling a Goldeneye than other sawbils. Small bill and steep forehead. Male almost completely white, with black mask and fine black markings. In flight the dark wings gives it a more black and white appearance. Female or immature may be mistaken for other small ducks, but combination of brown upper head and white lower head is unique among WP-ducks. Body brownish grey. White patch on wing coverts prominent in flight in both sexes. Groups fly in loose lines, not bunches.

Sound:

Mostly quiet except when displaying, and even then difficult to hear. Male: an ascending, froglike, rattling pulse of clicks. Also various grunting sounds. Alarm call a harsh "Kraaa".

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Male unmistakable. A stunningly colourful bird with a dark, metallic green head with bright red bare sides. Female dark buff with dark spots. Can be mistaken for female Golden Pheasant, or Lady Amherst's Pheasant, but these have barred breast. Both sexes with straight, very long, tapering tails.

Sound:

Diverse repertoire of harsh cackling sounds. Male call can be heard for more than a kilometer away; a very harsh, staccato and explosive "kaa" or "ka-kaa", with last syllable falling in pitch.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Grouse-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file