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Red-crested Pochard
(Netta rufina)
German name(s): "Kolbenente"
Size: 42-49 cm; wing span 67-82 cm
Weight: 700-1100 g
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Red-crested Pochards are medium-sized diving ducks.
Their plumage is
dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
are different.
In addition,
males
have different
breeding
and eclipse
plumage.
Male
Red-crested Pochards in breeding
plumage
have a striking rusty-orange cap, brown sides of the head
and a black neck and front (only the flanks are white).
The underwings are white, while the upperwings are grey, with
conspicuous, very broad white bars bordered by a grey fringe
at the trailing edge. These white bars show prominently also
on the folded wings.
The upperparts are brownish-grey, while the rump and uppertail
are black.
In eclipse
the plumage
they are brownish-grey all over, except grey lower sides of
the head.
Male
Red-crested Pochards always retain their red irises and the
coral-red bill with its lighter nail.
Females
have a light brownish-grey front, a dark-brown top of the
head, brownish-grey upperparts and white lower sides of the
head.
The bill is dark-grey, with orange fringes.
Females
have dark-brown irises.
The legs and feet of both sexes are orange/grey.
Juveniles
resemble
females,
with duller colours and an all-dark bill.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See
Red-crested Pochard at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Red-crested Pochard is available
HERE
.
Red-crested Pochards are a partly sedentary, partly migratory
species.
Their overall range extends from around the Mediterranean Sea
(southern and central Europe; northern Africa), via south-eastern
Europe into Asia Minor and western and central Asia.
Winter grounds are in the South of their range (primarily the
Indian subcontinent), breeding grounds northward of Asia Minor
and into the central Asian steppes and plateaus, to the North
of the Himalayas.
In Europe Red-crested Pochards are partly sedentary, partly
(northward of ca. 46 degrees latitude) migratory.
They are resident mostly in Iberia (the southern part of the
peninsula and parts of the Mediterranean [near-]coastal strip)
and a few wetlands in southern and central France. There are
also sedentary populations on all the western Mediterranean
islands up to Sardinia and Corsica.
Mostly in southern Italy and in Greece migratory Red-crested
Pochards overwinter only.
Migratory birds breed in lakes and rivers primarily in the
Netherlands and in northern Germany and Poland, plus parts
of the Danube.
Another migratory breeding area is located along the North
coasts of both the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, and the
area in between.
The English population is considered to be comprised of descendants
of escapees that are now breeding successfully in the wild.
Red-crested Pochards have a strong preference for well-vegetated
wetlands during the breeding season, while at other times of the
year they can be found in more open aquatic habitats. They breed
around freshwater (lakes, rivers), brackish water (lagoons,
saltmarshes) and salt water (protected bays).
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
M. Thomas reports finding Red-crested Pochards at Hagnau, Lake
Constance, Germany, in April 2019.
J. Pires reports spotting Red-crested
Pochards in the Tejo estuary, Portugal, in March 2019 and again
in June/July 2019, when they were found to be breeding there.
More were found on various occasions in 2021.
M. Eaton found Red-crested Pochards in St. James's Park,
London, England, in September 2019.
G. Normand spotted a Red-crested Pochard
in Saint Denis, 10 km North of Paris, France, in February 2020.
Another was found at Lac de Creteil, Paris, France,
in February 2021.
H. Dahlem-Senger found a flock of Red-crested Pochards at
Unteruhldingen, Lake Constance, Germany, in September 2022.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
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Lateral view of a male Red-crested Pochard in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Saint Denis, 10 km North of Paris, France, February 2020]
Lateral view of a male Red-crested Pochard in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Lac de Creteil, Paris, France, February 2021]
Lateral view of a male Red-crested Pochard in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a male Red-crested Pochard in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]
Dorsal view of a male Red-crested Pochard in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]
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NON-BREEDING |
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Close-up lateral view of a male Red-crested Pochards in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. James's Park, London, England, September 2019]
Dorsal view of a male Red-crested Pochards in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. James's Park, London, England, September 2019]
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FEMALE |
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Frontal view of a female Red-crested Pochard
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]
Lateral view of a female Red-crested Pochard
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]
Lateral view of a female Red-crested Pochard
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]
Lateral view of a female Red-crested Pochard
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]
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PAIR |
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BREEDING |
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Pair of Red-crested Pochards; male in breeding
plumage on
the left, female on the right
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]
Pair of Red-crested Pochards; male in breeding
plumage on
the right, female on the left
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a pair of Red-crested Pochards in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a pair of Red-crested Pochards in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
Dorsal view of a pair of Red-crested Pochards in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
Mob of Red-crested Pochards in breeding
plumage
basking in the sun
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]
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NON-BREEDING |
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Flock of Red-crested Pochards; males in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Unteruhldingen, Lake Constance, Germany, September 2022]
Flock of Red-crested Pochards; males in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Unteruhldingen, Lake Constance, Germany, September 2022]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Dorsal view of a female Red-crested Pochard with a duckling
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2019]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.