Facts about Smew

1. 08

   Incubation of smew eggs lasts approximately 26 to 28 days, with females remaining on the nest alone while males abandon breeding territories before chicks hatch.

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2. 07

   Flocks of smews can gather in groups of up to 50 individuals on open water bodies during winter, making them relatively social despite their small size among diving ducks.

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3. 06

   In their courtship displays, male smews perform elaborate head-throwing and neck-stretching movements to attract females during the breeding season.

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4. 05

   Breeding pairs of smews nest in tree cavities and abandoned woodpecker holes across boreal forests of Russia and Scandinavia, typically laying 8 to 9 eggs per clutch.

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5. 04

   Smews consume primarily small fish and aquatic invertebrates, using their serrated bill edges to grip slippery prey while diving to depths of up to 10 meters.

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6. 03

   Male smews display distinctive white plumage with black markings on their heads and backs during breeding season, while females and juveniles remain predominantly grey-brown for camouflage.

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7. 02

   During winter in northern Europe, smew populations migrate southward to ice-free lakes and coastal waters, with some individuals traveling over 1,500 kilometers from their breeding grounds in Russia and Scandinavia.

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8. 01

   The smew, a diving duck species, weighs only 400 to 600 grams, making it Europe's smallest diving duck.

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