[Yamato]

Has anyone observed subadult smew in the wild at this time.
Some days ago i had a discussion about the face pattern with another birder.
As in my opinion there is a significant difference between first years and adult birds, the young ones have no black spot at the base of their bill(see atacched pics). To tell young females and males apart is only possibble in size difference.
So my question is: has anyone observed the young smew without black face between eye and bill base in the wild.

Greetz Yamato

[Stephen Dunstan]

Not my area of expertise but I thought first year males had black lores, never heard of ad and imm fem being split in the field but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

Stephen.

[Bluetail]

Don't get many Smew in south west England, so I haven't enough experience. However the description of juvenile Smew in "Wildfowl" by Steve Madge and Hilary Burn may answer your question:

"As female summer, but central underparts mottled greyish, not clear whitish, and with broader white tips to greater coverts and secondaries than on adult female. Young male larger than female, with tertials longer and paler. Develops adult-like features towards end of first winter or in first spring, but can have blackish lores by autumn. Males almost fully adult by second winter."

Jason