Smew
Credit: Kev Chapman

North American field guide

Smew

Mergellus albellus

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

41 cm (16") Rare. Visits Aleutians from Asia. Accidental on west and east coast, Great Lakes. Bill is dark and relatively short especially for a merganser.

Male: nearly all white with black markings. Large black eye patch. Conspicuous black and white wings in flight.

Female: gray body. White neck and head with a contrasting reddish cap.

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Smew (Female)

1 rule
Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 1
What colour was the SIDE ?
Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Crest of feathers on top of the head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States
result:798-smew-female:1:1 Source: 798 Smew (Female), row 1

Smew (Male)

1 rule
Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 1
What colour was the SIDE ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States