Red-crested Pochard
The Red-crested Pochard is a large diving duck. 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.
The Red-crested Pochard feeds mainly by diving or dabbling. They eat aquatic plants and typically upend for food more than most diving ducks.
The Red-crested Pochard breeds in southern Europe and Central Asia and winters in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. Their breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lakes. It is a gregarious bird forming large flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving ducks.
The status of the Red-crested Pochard in the UK is much confused because there have been many escapes and deliberate releases over the years, as well as natural visitors from the continent. However, it is most likely that UK birds are escapees that are now breeding wild and have built up a successful feral population.
This bird was part of the captive collection at the WWT Wetland Centre.
Date: 7th March 2015
Location: WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, Greater London
The Red-crested Pochard feeds mainly by diving or dabbling. They eat aquatic plants and typically upend for food more than most diving ducks.
The Red-crested Pochard breeds in southern Europe and Central Asia and winters in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. Their breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lakes. It is a gregarious bird forming large flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving ducks.
The status of the Red-crested Pochard in the UK is much confused because there have been many escapes and deliberate releases over the years, as well as natural visitors from the continent. However, it is most likely that UK birds are escapees that are now breeding wild and have built up a successful feral population.
This bird was part of the captive collection at the WWT Wetland Centre.
Date: 7th March 2015
Location: WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, Greater London
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Also in: Diving ducks
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