drake posing for a portrait (Zoo; 2008-10-18)


Smew
Mergellus albellus

Native Range: Eurasia

Notes: a tiny duck with strong sexual dimorphism; drake is mostly white-plumaged with black highlights; hen is grayer-bodied with a reddish-brown crown and white face; the silly name of this bird comes from the drake's call, which sounds like "smew"; bill has a serrated edge that helps hold slippery fish; nests in forests in tree cavities such as the abandoned holes of Black Woodpeckers; forms large flocks in winter.

drake; bold black-and-white plumage; black eye spot (Zoo; 2008-10-18)
drake; vertical black stripes on breast and head (Zoo; 2008-10-18)

drake standing; bluish-grey bill (Zoo; 2008-10-18)
hen; (Zoo; 2008-10-18)

hen; reddish crown; white face; grey body plumage (Zoo; 2008-09-18)
hen; crown can look brownish (Zoo; 2008-10-18)

hen; small size; some white on speculum (Zoo; 2008-09-18)