Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl
Red-crested Pochard
Copied!
Netta rufina
Copied!
Voice
Call
Philippe_Grange
Call
Philippe_Grange
How to recognize it
-
Large, bulky diving duck
-
Male: rounded orange head, red bill, black breast and belly, white flanks
-
Female: pale brown overall, darker back, whitish face
-
Flight looks lighter than most diving ducks; male gives a soft wheezing whistle
About the species
The Red-crested Pochard is a large, heavy duck with a striking male: a rounded orange head, red bill, and dark breast make it hard to miss. The female is much quieter in appearance, with a plain pale-brown look.
It moves with more ease on land than many diving ducks and often comes ashore to feed. Males are usually quiet, though their soft whistle is more often heard in spring.
It prefers freshwater lakes with reeds and patches of open water, and in some places it also turns up on city ponds. It feeds mainly on aquatic plants, adding molluscs and other small water animals on wintering grounds, and most of the range is migratory.
Where to find
-
On canal edges and city ponds with reedbeds — look for it feeding along the open water margin, then popping up with bits of aquatic plants.
-
At quiet lakes with reed-fringed shores, the male is easiest in spring when his low whistle comes from flocks loafing on the water.
-
On larger park lakes with sheltered banks, small groups dive close to the shoreline and then regroup on the open water.
-
In winter, watch unfrozen stretches of urban water where loose flocks drift together and disappear in short, repeated dives.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Netta rufina Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Red-crested pochard Encyclopedia article