Smew
The Smew is a species of diving duck and is the only living member of the genus Mergellus. This genus is closely related to Mergus which is represented in the UK by the Red-breasted Merganser and the Goosander.
The male Smew is white with a black mask and a black back and is unmistakable. It is often described as having a “cracked ice” appearance. The female and immature male are grey birds with chestnut foreheads and crowns and they can be confused at a distance with the Ruddy Duck. They are often known as "redheads". The Smew's small bill has a hooked tip and serrated edges which help it catch fish when it dives for them.
The Smew can be found on the lakes and rivers of the northern taiga region of Europe and Asia. It usually breeds in May and June and nests in tree holes such as old woodpecker nests. As a migrant, it leaves its breeding areas and winters further south on the sheltered coasts or inland lakes of the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, north Germany and the Low Countries.
The Smew is also a winter visitor to the UK in small numbers where it is mainly found south of a line between the Wash and the River Severn, typically on lakes, reservoirs and gravel pits. Sometimes birds move to the UK from Holland and Denmark to escape freezing weather there.
The Smew is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. It is not considered threatened on the IUCN Red List although its population is decreasing.
This bird was part of the captive collection at WWT Slimbridge.
Date: 8th January 2019
Location: WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
The male Smew is white with a black mask and a black back and is unmistakable. It is often described as having a “cracked ice” appearance. The female and immature male are grey birds with chestnut foreheads and crowns and they can be confused at a distance with the Ruddy Duck. They are often known as "redheads". The Smew's small bill has a hooked tip and serrated edges which help it catch fish when it dives for them.
The Smew can be found on the lakes and rivers of the northern taiga region of Europe and Asia. It usually breeds in May and June and nests in tree holes such as old woodpecker nests. As a migrant, it leaves its breeding areas and winters further south on the sheltered coasts or inland lakes of the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, north Germany and the Low Countries.
The Smew is also a winter visitor to the UK in small numbers where it is mainly found south of a line between the Wash and the River Severn, typically on lakes, reservoirs and gravel pits. Sometimes birds move to the UK from Holland and Denmark to escape freezing weather there.
The Smew is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. It is not considered threatened on the IUCN Red List although its population is decreasing.
This bird was part of the captive collection at WWT Slimbridge.
Date: 8th January 2019
Location: WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
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Also in: Sawbills
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