Visual Search | Wizard | Browse
Bird name:

Red-crested Pochard

Netta rufina




Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)





Euring 5

iBird Ad

Breeding Location:

Lakes, Rivers

Breeding Type:


Egg Colour:

Cream to pale green, different within the clutch.

Number of Eggs:

6 - 14

Incubation Days:

26 - 28

Egg Incubator:


Nest Material:

Hollow made of roots, twigs and leaves and lined with down feathers.

Nest Location:

Near water on the ground in dense vegetation or on floating mats of vegetation amidst reedbeds.


Some migrate


Red-crested Pochard: Mallard-sized duck with red-orange crown, brown face with red eye, and red bill. Nape, back of neck, underparts, and rump black. Large, white lower flanks. Back grey-brown. Wings mostly white with grey-brown and black trailing edge. Fast, direct flight. Adult female pale, grey-brown on upperparts, pale brown on underparts. Dark grey around eye, and light grey on face and throat. Dark grey bill with dull pink. Male eclipse like female but more red-brown and red eye and bill. Juvenile like female but all dark bill.

Range and Habitat

Red-crested Pochard: Escaped breeder and scarce visitor in Britain. Birds are visible all year. Breeding birds are likely to be found in southern and eastern England. Occasional birds visit on passage from continental Europe. Habitat includes lakes, reservoirs, and marshes.

Breeding and Nesting

Red-Crested Pochard: Nest is a small, lined depression on the ground near water or on a reed platform in water. It is usually well hidden in vegetation. Two or more females may share a "dump nest" or community nest. Female may also parasitize, laying eggs in the nest of another species.

Foraging and Feeding

Red-crested Pochard: Feeds mainly by diving or dabbling for stems, roots and seeds of aquatic vegetation. Found in marshes, lakes and river deltas forming flocks with other ducks.


Red-crested Pochard: Generally silent.

Similar Species

Red-crested Pochard: Pintail has brown, less rufous head, bright white neck and breast, distinctive long tail, and yellow sides of rump. Pochard has a grey and black bill, fully white belly, darker red-brown head, and grey wings.


Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.

Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
The crown is the top part of the birds head.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX






Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX