Photo: Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Smew

Mergellus albellus

Smew (Mergellus albellus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Ontario Birds of England Birds of Bedfordshire Birds of Buckinghamshire Birds of South Yorkshire Birds of Berkshire Birds of Bristol Birds of Cambridgeshire

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ontario Ducks, Geese & Swans of England

See what's near you right now

The Smew (Mergellus albellus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 609 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Mergellus
Species albellus

Where it lives

Subarctic from northern Scandinavia to Kamchatka (southeastern Russia)

Europe & Northern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 609 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Smew hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Smew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Smew (Mergellus albellus) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL subarctic from n Scandinavia to Kamchatka (se Russia).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 609 g, with a wing length of about 18.7 cm and a tail of around 7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 12 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Smew — Alarm call, call

Recorded by Jarek Matusiak Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Smew?

The Smew is a large bird that weighs around 609 g.

Where does the Smew live?

The Smew is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL subarctic from n Scandinavia to Kamchatka (se Russia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Smew belong to?

The Smew (Mergellus albellus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Smew eat?

The Smew hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Smew migrate?

The Smew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Smew endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Smew make?

1 real field recording of the Smew — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Smew's range?

The Smew has a mapped global range of about 12 million km².