Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)

Other Names (World)
Red-crested Pochard, Red crested Duck

Family
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans)

Size
53 - 57 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Pallas, 1773)

Habitat
Breeds on fresh water lakes and rivers with extensive cover. In winter on lakes and flooded gravel pits.

Range (Guide)

Afghanistan (NB) (P), Albania (B) (NB), Algeria, Armenia (B) (NB), Austria (B) (NB) (P), Azerbaijan (B) (NB) (P), Bangladesh (NB), Belgium (B) (NB), Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria (B) (NB), China (mainland), Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska) (B) (NB), Cyprus (NB), Czech Republic (B) (NB) (P), Denmark (B) (P), Egypt, Estonia (B), France (B) (NB) (P), Georgia, Germany (B) (NB) (P), Greece (B) (NB) (P), Hungary (B) (NB) (P), India, Iran [Islamic Republic of] (NB), Iraq (NB), Israel, Italy (B) (NB), Jordan (NB) (P), Kazakhstan (B), Kyrgyzstan (B), Latvia (B) (NB), Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of] (B) (NB), Moldova [Republic of] (B), Mongolia (B), Montenegro (B) (NB), Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles (B) (NB), Pakistan, Poland (B) (NB) (P), Portugal (B) (NB), Romania (B) (NB) (P), Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B), Russia (European) (B) (NB) (P), Serbia (B) (NB), Slovakia (Slovak Republic) (B) (NB), Slovenia (NB), Spain (B) (NB), Switzerland (B) (NB), Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan (B), Turkey (B) (NB), Turkmenistan (B), Ukraine (B) (NB) (P), Uzbekistan (B).

Vagrant to Bahrain, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malta, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates.

Introduced to United Kingdom (B) (NB).

Scattered populations in western Europe, from southern and eastern Spain and southern France eastwards; bulk of population from Black Sea and Turkey east to north-western China.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 420,000 - 440,000 (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Mostly aquatic plants, but also some aquatic insects and other water creatures.

Voice
Mostly silent. Male, a hoarse, loud 'bat' is uttered, especially during courtship. Female, a 'gock' or 'kurr'.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (69)...)

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) [XC730630]
by Stuart Fisher from Amsterdam, Government of Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands (nocturnal flight call)

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) [XC813519]
by maudoc from Maishukur, Kazakhstan (call)

Nest
In dense cover or waterside vegetation.

Eggs (Guide)
8 - 10; pale green.

Subspecies
Usually considered a link between dabbling ducks and Aythya pochards. Hybridization recorded in captivity with several species of genera Anas and Aythya.

No subspecies.

References
See References.

The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7

Files:

JPG files for Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

For more information about the Red-crested Pochard see... Show Articles

BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Articles about the Red-crested Pochard

If you would like to read any articles about the Red-crested Pochard...

Show Articles (0)

No Pictures of Red-crested Pochard

If Birdpedia has no pictures of Red-crested Pochard or you would like to see more, then try the following...

Show External Images from BING

From BING (10)

No Videos of Red-crested Pochard

If Birdpedia has no videos of Red-crested Pochard or you would like to see more, then try the following..

Show External Videos

From BING (0)