Smew (Mergellus albellus)

Other Scientific Names
Mergus albellus [Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994)], Mergus albellus [AERC TAC (2003)]

Other Names (World)
Smew, White Nun, Red-head (female)

Family
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans)

Size
38 - 44 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Habitat
Wooded lakes during the breeding season. In winter on lakes.

Range (Guide)

Afghanistan (NB), Albania (NB), Austria (NB), Azerbaijan (NB), Belarus (B) (NB) (P), Belgium (NB), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria (NB), Canada, China (mainland), Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska) (NB), Czech Republic (NB), Denmark (NB), Egypt, Estonia (NB) (P), Finland (B) (NB) (P), France (NB) (P), Germany (NB) (P), Greece (NB), Hungary (NB), India, Iran [Islamic Republic of] (NB), Iraq (NB), Ireland (NB), Italy (NB), Japan, Kazakhstan (B), Kyrgyzstan (NB), Latvia (NB) (P), Liechtenstein, Lithuania (NB) (P), Luxembourg (NB), Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of] (NB), Moldova [Republic of] (NB), Mongolia, Montenegro (NB), Nepal, Netherlands Antilles (NB), North Korea, Norway (B) (NB), Pakistan, Poland (NB) (P), Romania (B) (NB) (P), Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B) (P), Russia (European) (B) (NB), Saudi Arabia, Serbia (NB), Slovakia (Slovak Republic) (NB) (P), Slovenia (NB), South Korea, Spain (NB), Sweden (B) (NB) (P), Switzerland (NB), Taiwan (China), Tajikistan, Turkey (NB), Ukraine (NB) (P), United Kingdom (NB), USA (NB), Uzbekistan.

Vagrant to Algeria, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Hong Kong (China), Iceland, Israel, Jordan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malta, Myanmar, Portugal, Tunisia.

Sweden eastwards to eastern Siberia.

Population
Estimated population is 130,000 (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Mainly small fish. In summer, mainly insects and their larvae.

Voice
Mostly silent. Creaking, gruntling and rattling calls associated with courtship and alarm.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (23)...)

Smew (Mergellus albellus) [XC127438]
by Jarek Matusiak from Warszawa (near Warsaw), Warszawa, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (alarm call)

Smew (Mergellus albellus) [XC565802]
by Lars Edenius from Mal\u00e5 Municipality, V\u00e4sterbottens l\u00e4n, Sweden (song, wing flutter)

Nest
In a hole of a tree and nestboxes.

Eggs (Guide)
Usually 6 - 9; creamy-buff. Incubation: about 28 days; by female.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

References
See References.

The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7

Files:

JPG files for Smew (Mergellus albellus) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

For more information about the Smew see... Show Articles

BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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