Smew (Mergellus albellus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Smew is a small diving duck from Eurasia and a very rare wild visitor to the United States. Males have white bodies with black markings around the eyes and on the back, while females have chestnut heads, white lower faces, and gray bodies. Some U.S. reports may involve escaped captive birds.

Appearance

Appearance: The male is mostly white with crisp black marks around the eye and on the back. The female has a chestnut head, white lower face, and gray body; both have short, narrow bills.

Look-alikes

Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus

A male Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) has a large white patch in a black fan-shaped crest and chestnut sides. A male Smew looks much whiter, with a small dark eye patch instead.

Why they get mixed upBoth are compact diving ducks with bold black-and-white males.

Common MerganserMergus merganser

A female Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is much larger, with a longer red bill and a broad white chest. A female Smew has a shorter dark bill and a white lower face.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: lakes and rivers in Eurasia
sheltered coastal waters in winter
Range: It breeds across northern Eurasia. In the U.S., it is a very rare visitor, most reliably reported from the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
Seasonal presence: An occasional migrant or winter visitor in Alaska.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

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