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.

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) [XC407509]
by Andrew Harrop from Corte Franca, Provincia di Brescia, Lombardia, Italy (call)

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) [XC616177]
by BirdingAlbufera from L\u00fcscherz, Erlach, Bern, Switzerland (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

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BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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