Red-Crested Pochard

Red-Crested Pochard Identification Guide

Key facts

Scientific name: Netta rufina

Status: Scarce migrant and introduced breeder

Breeding birds: 10-21 pairs

Wintering birds: 500 birds

Conservation status: Introduced

Family: Ducks, geese & swans

Length: 53 – 57 cm

Wingspan: 85 – 90 cm

Weight: 900 – 1,400 g

Typical lifespan: 5 years

What do red-crested pochards look like?

Adult male red-crested pochards have a pale brown upperparts with a white edge to the primaries, and a broad white band along the full length of the wing. The neck and breast are black, the flanks are white and the tail is black. The head is orange with a fuzzy crown, and the eyes are red, the bill is pinkish red, and the legs and feet are orange.

In eclipse plumage, red-crested pochards are browner with a dark brown cap on the head and pale brown face. The bill is red.

Female red-crested pochards look like males in eclipse but the bill is grey with a pink patch near the tip.

Juveniles are similar to eclipse males but with a pink bill.

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How do red-crested pochards breed?

Red-crested pochards breed between April and June. They are monogamous and produce 1 brood a season. They build their nests in a small depression in the ground near lakes and rivers, or on floating vegetation in reedbeds. The nest is built by the female and made from roots, twigs, and leaves, and lined with feathers. Two or more females may share a nest and they will sometimes parasitise other species of waterfowl’s nests.

Red-crested pochards lay 6-14 cream or pale green eggs which are incubated by the female alone for 26-28 days. Ducklings are covered in pale yellow and brown down. The male brings food to the nest and the female feeds them. They fledge 35-40 days after hatching but remain near the nest for another 2 weeks. They reach sexual maturity at 1 or 2 years.

What do red-crested pochards eat?

Red-crested pochards are diving ducks but feed by both dabbling and diving. During breeding season they eat mainly aquatic vegetation while in winter they will supplement their diet with sedges, rice, grasses, and seeds.

Where can I see red-crested pochards?

Red-crested pochards can be seen all year round in the UK. They are found mainly in southern and eastern England where breeding populations have become established from escapes from captivity. Occasionally, wild birds can be spotted. Look out for them on near lakes and rivers with reds, gravel pits, and reservoirs.