Alaska Species Explorer
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Harlequin Duck -
Common Murre -
Horned Puffin -
Tufted Puffin -
King Eider -
Black Oystercatcher -
Long Tailed Ducks -
Pigeon Guillemots -
Red-legged Kittiwake -
Rhinoceros Auklet -
Smew -
Spectacled Eider -
Steller’s Eider
ALASKAN RANGE
All
x
- – No known individuals remaining.
- – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.
- – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
- – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
- – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a higher risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
- – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.
- – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
Smew
x
- – No known individuals remaining.
- – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.
- – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
- – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
- – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a higher risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
- – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.
- – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
Common Name: Smew
Scientific Name: Mergellus albellus
Distribution:
Usually found in Eurasia, but during the autumn it can be found in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
Conservation Status:
It is not considered threatened on the IUCN Red List, though its population is decreasing.
Average Wingspan: 25 inches
Average Weight: 600 grams
Plumage Description:
The male breeding plumage is black and white, with a black face and white breast feathers. The female has a brown head with a white cheek and chin patch. The breast is light grey and the rest of the body is darker grey.
Diet in the Wild: Fish, insects, and invertebrates
Number of Eggs Per Clutch: 6-9 eggs
Incubation Period: 26-28 days
Habitat:
Breed in small lakes and ponds. Winter in lakes, streams and estuaries and often build nests in holes in trees.
Threats in the Wild: mink, avian predators, bears
Did you know?:
- Other names for the smew are “Weasel Coot” and “White Nun”.
- Smallest species of mergansers
- Very rare in America, considered an accidental or transient visitor
- Feathers of the male are said to look like cracked ice
