The Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) is a medium-sized diving duck, belonging to the family Anatidae. It is a bird of robust build, with a sloping forehead and a relatively long bill. The male is distinguished by its chestnut head and neck, black breast and tail, and pale grey body with fine vermiculations. The female is more subdued in coloration, with a brownish body and a less vibrant head and neck.
Males can be identified by their striking chestnut head and neck, black breast, and pale grey body. They have a dark grey bill with a blue-grey band and yellow-orange to red irises, which intensify during the breeding season. Females and juveniles are less colorful, with brownish tones and grey legs and feet. The female's iris is brown, sometimes with a yellowish tinge, while juveniles have a yellow-olive iris that darkens with age.
The Common Pochard favors marshes and lakes with at least a meter of water depth for breeding. These habitats provide the necessary cover and food resources for the species.
This species has a widespread distribution across the Palearctic. It breeds mainly in the steppe regions of Scandinavia and Siberia and winters in the south and west of Europe. In the British Isles, it breeds in eastern England and lowland Scotland, with increasing numbers in Northern Ireland and sporadically in the Republic of Ireland.