smew

bird

Also known as: Mergus albellus

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

The smew (Mergus albellus) is a small merganser, a type of diving duck. It is characterized by its distinctive narrow bill with toothlike edges and a hooked tip, adapted for catching fish.1

The male smew is primarily white, gray, and black, while the female is mostly gray with a chestnut and white head. These birds breed in northern regions, from Scandinavia to Siberia, and winter in areas south to the Mediterranean and Central Asia. Smews are sometimes referred to as white mergansers, particularly in England. They are classified within the sea duck tribe, Mergini.213

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merganser
The smew (M. albellus) is a small, compact merganser with a short bill; it breeds from Scandinavia to Siberia and south to Turkestan and winters on lakes and streams south to the Mediterranean and Central Asia.
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The smew (M. albellus) is a small, compact merganser with a short bill; it breeds from Scandinavia to Siberia and south to Turkestan and winters on lakes and streams south to the Mediterranean and Central Asia.
Read More