Redhead (bird) Redhead (bird) The redhead ("Aythya americana") is a medium-sized diving duck. The scientific name is derived from Greek "aithuia" an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin "americana", of America. The redhead is long with an wingspan. It belongs to the genus Aythya, together with 11 other described species. The redhead and the common pochard form a sister group which together is sister to the canvasback. The redhead goes by many names, including the red-headed duck and the red-headed pochard. This waterfowl is easily distinguished from other ducks by the male’s copper coloured head and bright
Southern pochard with or without emergent vegetation. They are suspected to have been strong migrants in the past but the construction of numerous farm dams seems to allow them a more sedentary lifestyle. They reach highest concentrations in Africa's central plateaus and in the south-western winter rainfall region. Southern pochards are sociable and gregarious. They have been seen in groups of up to 5,000. The birds are solitary nesters, building nests out of leaves and stems on the banks of a river surrounded by vegetation. The female southern pochard lays a clutch consisting of six to fifteen eggs. The female incubates the