Kaziranga National Park’s 7th Waterbird Census Records First-Ever Smew Sighting

The 7th waterbird census at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve recorded the first-ever sighting of the smew. The observation has raised concerns about climate-driven range shifts.

Smew (Mergellus albellus):

Dimension	Key Details
Scientific Name	Mergellus albellus
Common Name	Eurasian Diving Duck
Family	Anatidae
Habitat	Freshwater wetlands lakes slow moving rivers and floodplain beels preferring fish rich sheltered waters during winter
Distribution	Eurasian taiga of northern Europe and Siberia and winter migrant to parts of Europe and Asia
Status in India	Rare winter visitor with sporadic sightings in northern and central wetlands including Haiderpur in Uttar Pradesh and Corbett
Identification	Male has distinct black mask on white body female has mottled grey brown body with chestnut head and white throat
Behaviour and Diet	Seen in small flocks and feeds mainly on small fish and aquatic invertebrates
Breeding	Breeds in taiga forest regions using tree cavities
IUCN Status	Least Concern
Threats	Habitat loss wetland degradation climate driven range shifts hunting pressure and oil pollution
7th Kaziranga Waterbird Census	Survey covered 166 wetlands across 10 ranges of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve
Abundant Species Recorded	Bar headed goose northern pintail and lesser whistling duck
Ramsar Criterion 5	Wetland considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20000 or more waterbirds
Top Wetlands by Population	Rowmari Beel 15661 Donduwa Beel 14469 Katakhal 4979 Sohola 3612 Khalihamari 3463
Top Wetlands by Diversity	Rowmari Beel 77 species Donduwa Beel 71 species Sohola 69 species Kawoimari Bhoisamari Diffulo 57 species Ververy 53 species