Red-crested Pochard Netta Rufina

Appearance:
Male - The male Red-crested Pochard has a rounded orange head, black breast, grey-brown back, white flanks, and black tail. The male also has a bright red beak, red eyes, and red-orange legs and feet.
Female - The female has a dark brown crown and nape with white cheeks, brownish eyes, upperparts are brown with underparts being lighter brown. The beak is dark grey-brown with pinkish tip, and the legs and feet are grey-pink.
Eclipse - The male in eclipse plumage is very similar to the female but retains the red eyes and bright red beak.

Male	Female	Eclipse

Size: - Typical Adult is about 55cm (22in).

Food: - Mainly aquatic vegetation, leaves, stems, roots, seeds, also occasionally insects, larvae, small aquatic animals.

Habitat/Range: - Lowland marshes and well-vegetated lakes in Europe, mainly in France and Spain and Central Asia. Winters in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, the Indian Subcontinent and northern Africa.

Breeding Habitat/Resident,    Migration or Winter Area.

Breeding Season: - Mid-April to early June.

Eggs: - 8 to 12 (pale green colour).

Notes: - The Red-crested Pochard is a typical diving duck which likes deep well-vegetated lakes. During courtship the male will dive for food which is offered to the female.

Conservation status (IUCN 3.1):
  Least Concern.  

Classification: - Family: Anatidae,
Subfamily: Aythyinae, Genus: Netta .