Smew

Overview

The smew, scientifically known as Mergellus albellus, is a species of duck and the only living member of its genus. It is the sister taxon to Mergus and Lophodytes and has been known to hybridise with the common goldeneye.

Identification

• Adult drakes exhibit a striking 'cracked ice' or 'panda' appearance, looking very black-and-white in flight with oval white wing-patches.
• Females and immature males are grey with a chestnut forehead and crown, white chin and cheeks, and black lores, often referred to as 'redhead' smew.
• The bird measures 38–44 cm in length with a wingspan of 56–69 cm.
• It possesses a bill with a hooked tip and serrated edges.

Habitat

Breeding occurs in the northern taiga of the Palearctic, from northern Scandinavia to Chukotka, where the bird requires trees for nesting. It favours fish-rich lakes and slow rivers, preferring areas near the edges, often under small trees. During winter, it migrates to sheltered coasts or inland lakes across Europe, Asia, and occasionally North America.

Diet

The smew dives for fish, using a bill with a hooked tip and serrated edges to catch its prey.

Did you know?

Subfossils of the smew have been discovered in the Early Pleistocene deposits at West Runton, England.