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Smew

Mergellus albellusOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)
Smew Male Portrait
  Splitbar
Range Map for Smew

Overview

Smew: Small merganser, mostly white body except for black back, mask, breast bar, and V-shaped nape patch. Wings are dark with large white patches. Gray legs, feet. Feeds on fish, aquatic insects, and their larvae. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats. Flies in straight line or V formation.

Range and Habitat

Smew: Eurasian species, rare fall and winter visitor in western Aleutians; casual on Pribilofs; accidental on or near the west and east coast and the Great Lakes. Preferred habitats include lakes, bays, and rivers.

Splitbar

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Voice Text

"krrr"

Splitbar
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Related Birds:

Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Long-tailed Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
.

Copyright © 2005 WBFI Research Foundation Bird database and its related content and media is Copyright (C) 2002 - 2005 Mitch Waite Group All rights reserved.

Family Merganser (Anatidae)_blue
Species Mergellus albellus
Length14.5 - 17 Inches
Wingspan25 Inches

Smew

Smew: Small merganser, mostly white body except for black back, mask, breast bar, and V-shaped nape patch. Wings are dark with large white patches. Gray legs, feet. Feeds on fish, aquatic insects, and their larvae. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats. Flies in straight line or V formation.

● Song: "krrr"

● Foraging & Feeding: Smew: Feeds on aquatic insects and small fish; forages by diving from the surface, swimming underwater to pursue prey.

● Breeding & nesting: Smew: Six to nine creamy white eggs are laid in a tree hole lined with down, usually close to the ground, and near water. Eggs are incubated for 26 days by the female.

● Similar species: Smew: Steller’s Eider has brown breast and belly.

Flight Pattern

Direct flight with rapid wing beats.
Smew Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Smew: Eurasian species, rare fall and winter visitor in western Aleutians; casual on Pribilofs; accidental on or near the west and east coast and the Great Lakes. Preferred habitats include lakes, bays, and rivers.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationRare, Accidental in North America
MigrationMigratory
Weight22.4 Ounces