Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl
Smew
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Mergellus albellus
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How to recognize it
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Small, compact duck, a bit larger than a teal
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Male: white body, black back and black head with a white spot near the eye
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Female and young: grey, with chestnut head and a dark patch at the bill
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In flight, oval white wing patches stand out
About the species
Smew looks neat and brisk, especially the male, whose black-and-white pattern reads like a bold cutout on the water. The whole impression is of a compact duck with a clean, almost graphic look.
Most of the time it stays quiet, but in courtship the male gives low, rasping sounds with a rough, hiccup-like ending. It dives well, keeps its tail dipped in the water, and can lift off after only a very short run.
It breeds on small freshwater lakes, ponds, and slow rivers in northern forest country, usually where trees stand close to the shore. Its food is mostly aquatic invertebrates, with some fish, and in winter it shifts south to sheltered coasts, lagoons, and larger unfrozen waters.
Where to find
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On quiet ponds, canal edges, and backwaters—especially where reeds and overhanging branches meet the water—Smew dives for small prey and pops up a little farther out.
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In winter on unfrozen river stretches and large reservoirs, it often keeps to the ice edge, making short dives and resurfacing nearby.
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Near old riverside trees in mature parks—willows, poplars, and other hollow trunks close to water—listen for the male’s rare rasping, croaking calls.
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In sheltered bays and lagoon-like waterfronts, look for small groups on calm water, dipping quickly along the shore.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Mergellus albellus Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Smew Encyclopedia article