The Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina, is a striking large diving duck. Its name is drawn from the Greek word for duck, 'Netta', and the Latin 'rufina', meaning 'golden-red', a nod to the male's vibrant plumage.
Males are resplendent with a rounded orange head, a red bill, and a contrasting black breast. Their sides are a crisp white, with a brown back and a black tail. Females, on the other hand, are clad in more subdued tones, primarily pale brown with a darker back and crown, and a whitish face. During eclipse, males resemble females but retain their red bills.
These ducks favor lowland marshes and lakes, thriving in the wetland habitats of southern Europe.
The Red-crested Pochard breeds from the steppe and semi-desert regions near the Black Sea to Central Asia and Mongolia. It is a somewhat migratory species, with northern populations wintering in the Indian Subcontinent and Africa.
Gregarious by nature, Red-crested Pochards form large flocks in the winter, often mingling with other diving ducks such as the Common Pochard. They are known to both dive and dabble for their food.
The male emits a distinctive wheezing 'veht', while the female can be heard making a series of hoarse 'vrah-vrah-vrah' calls.
Physical Characteristics
Appearance: Males (drakes) feature a fluffy chestnut-orange crown, red bill, and black body with white sides. Females are muted brown with pale cheeks and dark, capped heads.
Size: Larger than a common pochard, with a robust build.
Flight: In flight, they display a broad white stripe along the trailing edge of the wing.
Diet and Behavior
Foraging: Primarily herbivorous, eating roots, seeds, and algae, but they will also consume small molluscs, fish, and insects.
Diving/Dabbling: They are skilled divers (often 1-2 meters deep) but also frequently "upend" like dabbling ducks to feed in shallower water.
Habitat: Prefers calm, shallow, well-vegetated freshwater lakes, lagoons, and marshes.
Social: Highly gregarious, often forming large, mixed flocks with other ducks during winter.
Breeding and Lifespan
Courtship: Males perform intense courtship displays, including head-bobbing and whistling, often gathering in groups around females.
Nesting: Nests are built in thick vegetation near water, with 6-12 eggs incubated solely by the female.
Lifespan: Generally 5-15 years, with the oldest recorded wild bird reaching nearly 13 years of age.
Population and Status
Status: Classified as Least Concern, with a stable or increasing European population.
Range: Breeds in southern Europe and Central Asia, migrating to North Africa and India for the winter. They have also established a resident population in parts of England.
Interesting Facts
Hybridization: They frequently pair with other species, including Mallards, Tufted Ducks, and Common Pochards.
Name Origin: The Latin name Netta rufina roughly translates to "red-haired duck" or "red-crested duck," referring to the male's vivid, fluffy head.
Molting: During summer (June-August), males become flightless for around four weeks while they molt.
