Home / Environment / Rare Smew Duck Arrives in Assam's Kaziranga
Rare Smew Duck Arrives in Assam's Kaziranga
25 Feb
Summary
- A rare Eurasian smew duck was sighted in Kaziranga National Park.
- The seventh waterbird count recorded 105,540 individual birds.
- Smew's presence signals wetland health and climate change concerns.
The seventh annual waterbird census at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam, concluded on January 11, 2026, has announced a significant discovery: the sighting of a rare smew duck. This diving duck, typically found in Eurasian taiga breeding grounds, was observed in the Rowmari-Donduwa beels within the Kaziranga landscape. This marks a notable event for ornithologists and wildlife officials monitoring avian biodiversity.
During the census, conducted from January 4 to 11, 2026, a total of 105,540 individual waterbirds, representing 107 species, were recorded. This count showed a slight decrease compared to the previous year. Officials emphasized that the arrival of the smew, despite the numerical dip, underscores the resilience of floodplains for migratory birds and guides conservation efforts in critical Important Bird Areas within the Kaziranga landscape.
The smew (Mergellus albellus) is a rare visitor to India, characterized by the male's distinctive black-masked white body and the female's mottled brown appearance. Its presence is seen as an indicator of wetland health, but its vagrant status also flags potential climate-driven range shifts and highlights threats to refueling stopovers from hunting and pollution. The census report also identified conservation needs for 18 species listed on IUCN watchlists.
