What does the word smew mean?

What is a smew bird?

Smew, smū, n. a bird of the family Anatid, in the same genus as the goosander and mergansers. The Smew does not visit the land much, and even sleeps upon the water. During winter the Smew is gregarious, living in flocks of thirty or forty individuals, mostly immature.

What is the meaning of the word’fowl’?

n. pl. fowl or fowls. 1. Any of various birds of the order Galliformes, especially the common, widely domesticated chicken (Gallus domesticus). 2. a. A bird, such as a duck, goose, turkey, or pheasant, that is used as food or hunted as game. b.

What is the meaning of fowl flesh?

fowl- the flesh of a bird or fowl (wild or domestic) used as food bird bird- warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings wishbone, wishing bone- the furcula of a domestic fowl poultry- flesh of chickens or turkeys or ducks or geese raised for food

What is the origin of the word smew?

The term smew has been used since the 17th century and is of uncertain origin. It is believed to be related to the Dutch smient (” wigeon “) and the German Schmeiente or Schmünte, “wild duck.” It is probably derived from smee, a dialectal term for a wild duck.

What does a drake smew bird look like?

The drake smew, with its ‘cracked ice’ and ‘panda’ appearance, is unmistakable, and looks very black-and-white in flight. The females and immature males are grey birds with chestnut foreheads and crowns, and can be confused at a distance with the ruddy duck; they are often known as “redhead” smew. It has oval white wing-patches in flight.

What does a redhead smew bird look like?

Description. The females and immature males are grey birds with chestnut foreheads and crowns, and can be confused at a distance with the ruddy duck; they are often known as “redhead” smew. It has oval white wing-patches in flight. The smew’s bill has a hooked tip and serrated edges, which help it catch fish when it dives for them.

What is a smew duck?

The smew is a small compact diving duck with a delicate bill. The male is white with a black mask and a black back, the female is grey with a reddish-brown head and white cheek. In flight, it shows black and white wings. It is a winter visitor in small numbers from Scandinavia and Russia.

What kind of bird is a smew?

Smew (bird) The Smew (Mergellus albellus) is a small duck which is intermediate between the mergansers and the goldeneyes, and has interbred with the Common Goldeneye. It is the only member of the genus Mergellus (Selby, 1840).

What is the meaning of wildfowl?

A bird, such as a duck, goose, turkey, or pheasant, that is used as food or hunted as game. b. The flesh of such birds used as food. 3. A bird of any kind. intr.v.fowled, fowl·ing, fowls To hunt, trap, or shoot wildfowl. [Middle English foul, from Old English fugol; see pleu-in Indo-European roots.]

What is the meaning of domestic fowl?

domestic fowl, fowl, poultry(noun) a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl. bird, fowl(verb) the flesh of a bird or fowl (wild or domestic) used as food.

What is the difference between fowl and animal?

1 (Animals) See domestic fowl 2 (Animals) any other bird, esp any gallinaceous bird, that is used as food or hunted as game. See also waterfowl, wildfowl 3 (Cookery) the flesh or meat of fowl, esp of chicken 4 (Animals) an archaic word for any bird

Why are Mergus ducks called sawbills?

Along with the smew and hooded merganser, they are therefore often known as “sawbills”. The goldeneyes, on the other hand, feed mainly on mollusks, and therefore have a more typical duck-bill. Mergus ducks are also classified as “diving ducks” because they submerge completely in looking for food.

What is the meaning of smew?

(Animals) a merganser, Mergus albellus,of N Europe and Asia, having a male plumage of white with black markings [C17: of uncertain origin] Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014 smew (smyu) n.

What does a drake duck look like?

For many ducks native to the Northern Hemisphere, a drake can look significantly different than hens of the same species. In addition to some minor size differences, males often have more vibrantly colored plumage, including bolder color patches, greater contrast, more elaborate markings, specialty feathers, and even iridescent patches.

Is there a male duck called a Drake?

However, the term is not used for other waterfowl; male swans, geese, coots, and similar birds are never called drakes. For a brief period after the breeding season, many male ducks molt to an eclipse plumage that more closely resembles the camouflaged colors of the females.

What is the difference between a Drake and a hen?

The term “hen” refers solely to females. Immature birds of either gender are called ducklings, not drakes or hens. A term that refers to a sexually mature adult male duck of any species, both wild and domestic. For many ducks native to the Northern Hemisphere, a drake can look significantly different than hens of the same species.

What is a Drake?

She has over 16 years experience writing about wild birds for magazines and websites. A drake is a fully sexually mature adult male duck of any duck species, wild or domestic, though males do not have to have attracted a mate or sired ducklings in order to be called drakes.

What does a red headed woodpecker look like?

“The red headed woodpecker has very distinctive, large color patches with no variegating, striation or striping,” says Emma Greig, project leader at Project FeederWatch. This beautiful bird has a red head, a snow white body and inky black wings with white patches.

How long does it take for a smew duckling to fly?

Ducklings leave the nest soon after hatching and learn to fly within about 10 weeks. It nests in tree holes, such as old woodpecker nests. It is a shy bird and flushes easily when disturbed. The smew is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds ( AEWA) applies.

What kind of bird has a white forehead and black bill?

Winter adult and juveniles have white forehead, black crown with white streaks; prominent dark bar on lesser coverts; underparts gray; black bill with red base; legs duller red to black-red. Greater Sand-Plover: Small plover, black bill and mask.