male	male female European distribution male

Identification

The male is unmistakable - entirely white with sparse black lines. The female resembles a small female Goldeneye with her grey body, white wing panel and reddish brown head, but the large and conspicuous pale cheek patch is distinctive. This pattern may cause confusion with Slavonian Grebe or Ruddy Duck but the Smew is bigger headed and thicker necked than the Grebe and lacks the horizontal face stripe of a female Ruddy duck or the black crown of an eclipse male.

Habitat

Breeds in trees beside lakes. Winters on lakes, reservoirs and estuaries.

Migration

Smew migrate from their main breeding grounds in Finland and Russia, to inland and coastal regions of western Europe, mainly around southern parts of the Baltic and North Seas, as well as the Black and Caspian Seas.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Smew is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Longham Lakes, Dorset 19/05/2010	Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk 01/03/2010	Tophill Low, E Yorks 07/03/2010	Linford NR, Bucks 13/03/2010	Linford NR, Bucks 13/03/2010
Longtown, Cumbria 13/03/2010	Lochwinnoch RSPB, Clyde 06/03/2010	Lochwinnoch RSPB, Clyde 06/03/2010	Lochwinnoch RSPB, Clyde 06/03/2010	Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk 11/03/2010

 View all pictures of Smew

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Smew breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Belarus
Finland
Norway
Romania
Russia
Sweden

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob2200.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Smew	Edit this link
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	Porcelain prize: Where to see Smew	Thursday 9th November 2006
	A superb prize for wildfowl-watchers on their patch, this beautiful duck can easily brighten up a cold winter's day. Find out where to see 'white nuns' and 'redheads'.

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