Unprecedented: Rare Smew Waterbird Spotted During 7th Waterbird Count 2026
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Rare Smew Sighting Stuns Kaziranga: First-Ever Record in Assam
M
Moneycontrol•26-02-2026, 13:35
Rare Smew Sighting Stuns Kaziranga: First-Ever Record in Assam
•A rare waterbird species, "Smew," was sighted for the first time ever in Kaziranga National Park during the 7th Waterbird Count 2026.
•The discovery of this small diving duck, known for its striking black and white plumage in males, has electrified scientists and conservationists.
•The Smew, typically breeding in northern Europe and Siberia, is not native to India, making its appearance in northeast India extremely rare and ecologically significant.
•The sighting occurred within Kaziranga’s vast wetland network, including floodplains and oxbow lakes, during a record-breaking census that documented 105,540 waterbirds.
•Only a single Smew individual was observed, suggesting an isolated occurrence, yet it significantly expands Kaziranga’s known avian diversity and raises questions about ecological shifts.
