Smews

Reminding us to pay attention

At the end of last week, Arley and I realized that it had been quite some time since we last went bird watching. So this past Monday, we bundled up and braced the windy cold to see what we could spot. To our delight, we identified a flock of Smews at a nearby lake. This beautiful bird has been quietly living right under our nose for the past few months. After we finally took the time to pay attention, we couldn’t help but go back three more times this week.

• Names:  Smew | Mergellus albellus | ミコアイサ (mikoaisa)

• Sound: Smews vocalize infrequently, saving their calls for courtship or times of distress.

• Size: 35-44cm

• Diet: Smews have serrated bills which allow them to catch a large variety of aquatic delicacies including invertebrates, plant matter, insects, and fish.

• Range: They can be found in a few parts of Europe and Asia during the winter, migrating from places like Scandinavia and Siberia.

• Habitat: In Japan, you can spot Smews floating in bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and coves. They build nests in tree hollows above the ground, sometimes renovating old woodpecker homes.  

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