Mergellus albellus
The Smew, a small and distinctively elegant diving duck, is often dubbed the "White Nun" due to the striking plumage of the dapper drakes. Males are primarily brilliant white with intricate black markings, including a prominent black patch around the eye and a fine black line along the crest, a black back, and black stripes on the flanks, measuring approximately 38-44 cm (15-17 inches) in length with a wingspan of 55-69 cm (22-27 inches) and weighing 500-750 grams. Females, or "Red-headed Sme...
Found in clear, slow-moving freshwater bodies such as lakes, ponds, and forested rivers, primarily in the boreal taiga zone for breeding. During winter, it favors larger, ice-free freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and sheltered coastal estuaries.
Primarily carnivorous, feeding mainly on small fish (especially minnows and sticklebacks), aquatic insects, larvae, and crustaceans. It forages by diving underwater and actively pursuing its prey.
Smews are diurnal foragers, spending much of their day diving for food, particularly during winter. They are highly agile underwater, propelling themselves with their large webbed feet to pursue prey. Courtship displays by males involve head-jerking, crest-raising, and distinctive vocalizations t...
The Smew has a broad breeding range across the taiga zone of Northern Eurasia, extending from Scandinavia eastward through Russia and Siberia to the Kamchatka Peninsula. Its primary breeding strongholds are found in the forested wetlands of northern Russia. During the non-breeding season, these d...
Least Concern
- The male Smew is often called the "White Nun" or "Nun Duck" due to its striking black and white plumage resembling a nun's habit. - Despite its small size, it is a true "sawbill" duck, possessing a slender, serrated bill perfectly adapted for grasping slippery fish. - Smews are among the few du...