Species:

Smew (Mergellus albellus)

Teal (Anas crecca)

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Length (cm):
38-44
34-38
Wingspan (cm):
55-69
58-64
Weight (gram):
500-800
200-450
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:

Smallest dabbling duck. Agile, with quick and easy take-off. Male with brown and green head with yellow stripes, grey body with a white horizontal stripe, and a yellow patch by the tail. Female is mostly brown with slim bill with orange base and no cheek stripe (see Garganey). Both sexes with green speculum with broad, wedge-shaped, white front edge, and dark primaries clearly visible in flight. Easy and quick take-off from both water and land, with rapid and changing flight.

Sound:

Male: characteristic, short, highly resonant and metallic "plytt". A bit similar to Pintail, but higher pitched and lacking accompanying whistling sound. Female: various quacking sounds generally quicker paced, more nasal and noticeably higher pitched than Mallard.

Male:

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

CC-photo:Koshyk, Licence,Link,

Sounds:Recorded by Bernard Bousquet,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Duck-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species