The establishment of a breeding population of Smew Mergellus albellus in an atypical habitat on the Atlantic coast of Norway

Jan E Østnes,Rolf T Kroglund

doi:10.34080/os.v25.22544

Jan E Østnes, Rolf T Kroglund

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https://doi.org/10.34080/os.v25.22544

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Journal: Ornis Svecica	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Nord University

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In recent years, the Smew Mergellus albellus has established a breeding population of minimum 15 pairs on the coastal islands in Vikna municipality (65°N, 11°E) in Central Norway. As a result, the current breeding distribution of Smew extends throughout northern Eurasia, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The habitat in Vikna is quite different from that of the coniferous taiga zone, and the population is probably ground-nesting. We suggest that the westward range expansion, and the ability to adapt to another habitat than the coniferous taiga zone, can make the Smew better able to cope with future impacts of global climatic change than predicted by present models.

Highlights

The breeding range of the Smew Mergellus albellus extends across northern Eurasia from northeastern parts of Fennoscandia, throughout Russia, and eastwards to the Pacific Ocean
The Smew normally nests in tree cavities and readily uses artificial nest boxes, and the northern border of the breeding distribution closely matches that of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius
It is sparse in most of the breeding range, and the European population of Smew is currently considered asVulnerablewith an estimated size of 5300–8400 breeding pairs (BirdLife International 2004)

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The breeding range of the Smew Mergellus albellus extends across northern Eurasia from northeastern parts of Fennoscandia, throughout Russia, and eastwards to the Pacific Ocean (del Hoyo et al 1992, Snow & Perrins 1998, Kear 2005). The Smew normally nests in tree cavities and readily uses artificial nest boxes, and the northern border of the breeding distribution closely matches that of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius (del Hoyo et al 1992, Snow & Perrins 1998). It is sparse in most of the breeding range, and the European population of Smew is currently considered asVulnerablewith an estimated size of 5300–8400 breeding pairs (BirdLife International 2004). During the remainder of the 20th century, the Norwegian population was restricted to this area, with a population estimated at 10–20 pairs (Snow & Perrins 1998, BirdLife International 2004)

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