description Common Pochard Overview
The common pochard, Aythya ferina, is a medium-sized diving duck of Europe and Asia. In breeding plumage, the male has a rusty red head, black breast, pale gray body, and red eyes, while the female is mainly brown with a paler face. The species breeds on lakes, ponds, marshes, and other wetlands and migrates or disperses seasonally across the Palearctic. Its diet includes aquatic plants, seeds, mollusks, insects, and other small invertebrates.
help Common Pochard FAQ
How can I identify a male common pochard?
The breeding male has a rusty red head, black breast, pale gray body and red eyes. These features help distinguish it from the similarly shaped female, which is mostly brown with a paler face.
Where does the common pochard breed?
Aythya ferina breeds across parts of Europe and Asia in lakes, ponds and marshes. It is a diving duck that feeds in freshwater habitats and can gather in large wintering groups.
Is the common pochard a diving duck?
Yes. It dives for aquatic plants and small animals, using its compact body and legs set relatively far back for underwater movement.
How is the common pochard different from the greater scaup?
The male common pochard has a reddish head and pale gray body, while a male greater scaup has a dark greenish head and a finely barred gray back. Their ranges overlap in parts of Europe, so head shape and wing markings can also help.
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