Red-crested pochard Red-crested pochard The red-crested pochard ("Netta rufina") is a large diving duck. The scientific name is derived from Greek "Netta" "duck", and Latin "rufina", "golden-red" (from "rufus", "ruddy"). Its breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lakes in southern Europe and Central Asia, wintering in the Indian Subcontinent and Africa. It is somewhat migratory, and northern birds winter further south into north Africa. The adult male is unmistakable. It has a rounded orange head, red bill and black breast. The flanks are white, the back brown, and the tail black. The female is mainly a pale brown, with a darker back
The Blue Bird (fairy tale) The Blue Bird (fairy tale) "The Blue Bird" is a French literary fairy tale by Madame d'Aulnoy, published in 1697. An English translation was included in "The Green Fairy Book", 1892, collected by Andrew Lang. The tale is Aarne–Thompson type 432, The Prince as Bird. Others of this type include "The Feather of Finist the Falcon", "The Green Knight", and "The Greenish Bird". After a wealthy king loses his dear wife, he meets and falls in love with a woman, who is also recently widowed and they marry. The king has a daughter named Florine and the queen also has