Wildlifeof Nepal
Red-crested Pochard
Ducks, Geese & Grebes
Photo: (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Netta rufina
Basic stats
Diet
Aquatic plants, by diving or dabbling; upends more than most diving ducks
Habitat
Lowland marshes and lakes
Range
Breeds from southern Europe across the Black Sea steppe to Central Asia and Mongolia; winters in the Indian subcontinent and Africa
Clutch size
8–12 pale green eggs
The red-crested pochard is a large diving duck. The adult male is unmistakable, with a rounded orange head, red bill, black breast, white flanks, brown back and black tail. The female is mainly pale brown with a darker back and crown and a whitish face, and eclipse males look like females but have red bills (Wikipedia, general species account).
It breeds in lowland marshes and lakes from southern Europe through the Black Sea steppe and semi-desert to Central Asia and Mongolia, wintering in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. It feeds mainly by diving or dabbling on aquatic plants. Nests are built by the lakeside among vegetation with eight to twelve pale green eggs. The male's call is a wheezing 'veht'.
Quick answers
- What does the Red-crested Pochard eat?
- Aquatic plants, by diving or dabbling; upends more than most diving ducks
- What habitat does the Red-crested Pochard live in?
- Lowland marshes and lakes
- Where is the Red-crested Pochard found?
- Breeds from southern Europe across the Black Sea steppe to Central Asia and Mongolia; winters in the Indian subcontinent and Africa
- How many eggs does the Red-crested Pochard lay?
- 8–12 pale green eggs