Smew

Why in News?

Recently, Assam’s Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary recorded the Smew (Mergellus albellus), a rare migratory waterbird, for the first time.

About Smew

The Smew is a medium-sized duck belonging to the family Anatidae. It was formally described in 1758 by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus.

Its scientific name is Mergellus albellus.

Habitat and Distribution

The Smew breeds in the northern taiga of Europe and Asia. During winter, it migrates to sheltered coasts and inland lakes, including regions around the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Great Britain, Caspian Sea, East China, Korea and Japan.

The species is an occasional visitor to the Indian Subcontinent.

It inhabits a variety of aquatic environments, including freshwater lakes, reservoirs, flooded woods, ice-free rivers, sheltered bays, estuaries, lagoons and tidal creeks.

Physical Features

The Smew is characterized by a distinctive narrow bill with tooth-like edges and a hooked tip, which is adapted for catching fish.

The male is predominantly white, with a black mask and black back, while the female is grey with a reddish-brown head and white cheek. During flight, its black-and-white wings are clearly visible.

Feeding and Behaviour

The Smew primarily forages by diving from the water surface. It can also swim underwater while pursuing prey, particularly fish.

Conservation Status

The Smew is classified as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List.

Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary

Location and Ecological Setting

The Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the southern part of the Brahmaputra River in Nagaon District of Assam. It forms an integral part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori ecosystem and is a notified buffer of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.

The sanctuary is part of the Brahmaputra Valley and is surrounded by human-dominated areas on all sides except the north.

Vegetation

The vegetation of Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary can broadly be classified into alluvial grassland, alluvial forest, moist deciduous forest and tropical semi-evergreen forest.

Fauna

The sanctuary is home to the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, elephants, Royal Bengal Tigers and Asiatic water buffaloes. It also supports more than 225 species of birds.

Important birds recorded in the sanctuary include the Spot-billed Pelican, Little and Large Cormorants, Egrets, Open-billed Stork, Brahminy Kite and Pond Heron.