Bird Guide

Harlequin Duck vs Smew

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus histrionicus

Large562 gMarine

Adult breeding males have a colorful and complex plumage pattern. The head and neck are dark slate blue with a large white crescent marking in front of the eye that extends up to the crest, a small round dot behind the eye, and a larger oval spot down the side of the neck. A black crown stripe runs over the top of the head, with chestnut patches on either side. A black-bordered white collar separates the head from the breast. The body is largely a lighter slate blue with chestnut sides. A black-bordered white bar divides the breast vertically from the sides.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0
Smew (Mergellus albellus)

Smew

Mergellus albellus

Large609 gWetland

The smew is 38–44 cm (15–17 in) long, with a wingspan of 56–69 cm (22–27 in), and a weight of 450–650 g (16–23 oz). Adult 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, with chestnut forehead and crown, white chin and cheeks, and black lores; they are often known as "redhead" smew.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Marco Mussita · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Harlequin Duck and Smew.