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.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Smew was first described in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist. It is the smallest of the mergansers. The females and immature males can be confused at a distance with the Ruddy Duck; they are often known as "redhead" Smew. They are also known as Weasel Coot and White Nun, and are sometimes considered to be a link between the Goldeneyes and the larger Mergansers. A group of ducks has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "flush", "paddling", "raft", and "team" of ducks.