Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl
Smew
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Mergellus albellus
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How to recognize it
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38–44 cm long
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In breeding plumage, male almost white, with a black back and black pattern on the head
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Female and immature male grey, with a chestnut crown, white throat and cheeks
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Oval white wing patches in flight; tail held low on the water
About the species
In breeding plumage, males are mostly white, with a black back and bold black markings across the head and neck. In flight, oval white patches show on the wings. Females and young males are grey, with a chestnut crown, white cheeks and chin, and a pale belly. The short, narrow bill has a hooked tip.
Usually quiet, it dives for food and can take off after only a short run across the water. Males occasionally give a low, rattling courtship call with a hiccup at the end, while females make a rough "krren." Females may also call while tending their young in summer.
In the breeding season, it uses lakes, ponds and slow rivers in northern forests, nesting in tree holes, often old woodpecker holes. It feeds mainly on aquatic insects and their larvae, along with some amphibians and plant matter; fish are more important in winter and early spring. After breeding, it moves south to sheltered coasts and inland lakes for winter, sometimes stopping near the edge of the ice.
Where to find
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In winter and early spring, along sheltered sea coasts, lagoons, and river estuaries, look for a smew diving for fish close to shore.
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At wintering inland lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, check the margins—especially beneath small trees—for dives as it feeds on aquatic invertebrates.
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During the breeding season, along wooded shores of small taiga lakes and slow rivers, watch for a female leading her ducklings from a tree hollow to the water.
