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Red-crested Pochard

Conservation status

Least Concern

Population Trend

Unknown

Alternate Names

-

Native Habitat

Marshy Land, Lake

Diet

Aquatic plants

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Red-crested Pochard

Netta rufina

The Red-crested Pochard is a large diving duck. Its breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lakes in southern Europe and Central Asia, wintering in the Indian Subcontinent and Africa. It is somewhat migratory, and northern birds winter further south into north Africa.

The adult male is unmistakable. It has a rounded orange head, red bill and black breast. The flanks are white, the back brown, and the tail black. The female is mainly a pale brown, with a darker back and crown and a whitish face. Eclipse males are like females but with red bills. They are gregarious birds, forming large flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving ducks, such as Common Pochards. They feed mainly by diving or dabbling. They eat aquatic plants, and typically upend for food more than most diving ducks.

Regional Names
  • Bengali:
    রাঙ্গামুড়ি, লালঝুঁটি ভুতিহাঁস
  • Gujarati:
    લાલચાંચ કારચીયા, રાતોબારી
  • Marathi:
    रक्तचंचू, मोठी लालसरी
  • Nepali:
    सुनजुरे हाँस
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Taxanomy

ANSERIFORMES
ANATIDAE
Netta rufina