Smew
Mergellus albellus
Lille skallesluger er en mindre dykand på cirka 41 centimeter, der yngler ved skovsøer fra det nordlige Skandinavien og østpå i et bredt bælte gennem Asien til Stillehavet. Arten er den eneste i slægten Mergellus.
Small, compact . The male is pure white with fine black markings, a black mask and grey flanks; the female is grey with white cheeks, a chestnut crown and a black patch around the eye.
Can be confused with
- Common Goldeneye — Female Goldeneye has an all-brown head with no white cheeks and a yellow eye; female Smew has white cheeks and throat and a chestnut crown. The male is easily told by its white head.
Plumage and variation
Male and female: Sexes differ clearly: the male white with black lines, the female grey with a chestnut crown.
Behaviour
An agile diving duck that dives for invertebrates; often in small flocks on fresh water and sheltered coasts in winter.
When and where
A fairly common and widespread passage and winter visitor to Denmark, increasing; seen mainly October–March.
Facts
Wingspan
62 cm
Conservation status
ikke truet
Relatives
Family
ducks, geese and swans
Anatidae
Order
waterfowl
Anseriformes
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