Smews inhabit freshwater ponds of Siberia. They are wild birds, they are not bred or kept in households. Members of the species generally live on the shores of water bodies bordered by forests, in habitats rich in feed. 

They do not make nests in the places with fast currents, giving preference to shallow waters. Sometimes, they can also be found in muskeg, or sphagnum boglands. This feathered tribe winters on coasts of warm seas or on banks of large non-freezing rivers and lakes. 

These ducks nest up in tree holes made by the woodpecker, in crevices between stones or under roots of old trees. They often fly from one place to another in search of food and a quiet place for rest. In order to go up into the air, birds do not need to gain speed, so smews live even in small ponds, which would not make a suitable habitat for other waterfowl species. 

Smews do not usually feed on fish; instead, they prefer different insects living in the water. Most often, those are diverse small beetles, dragonflies, mosquito larvae. In addition, the ducks sometimes eat various plants and amphibians. These birds can eat fish, but very rarely, mainly in early spring or in winter, when no other food is accessible. 

Members of this species are rather silent. However, when males try to attract attention of females, they swim around with fluffes feathers, uttering a very curious quacking sound. Females can also make vocalizations: For example, they call on their brood using a krren sound. Only the mother takes cares of the ducklings, with the drake taking no part in nurturing therm. In just a few hours after they see the light of day, ducklings go to the pond with their mother and they rise on wing in a couple of months. 

These ducks are often hunted — generally, in the periods when the birds fly to warmer regions for wintering. In order to decoy the waterfowl, hunters use stuffed birds.