Page 110 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Aythya ferina
Pochard white ring around
brownish eye
pale band
brown head on bill
pale grey
wingbar long,
IMMATURE
brown tapered
MALE breast bill
(WINTER)
brownish
liver-brown back red head
with paler flanks
FEMALE
reddish eye
IN FLIGHT peaked crown sloping
forehead
rich red head
pale grey back
and flanks
pale grey
dark MALE (SPRING)
stern patch on
dark bill
dull rufous
head
glossy black
breast
drab body
MALE (WINTER) MALE (SUMMER)
ogether with the Tufted Duck, which often associates with it,
Tthe Pochard is one of the common inland diving ducks. Flocks FLIGHT: fast and direct, with fast, deep wingbeats;
are generally less active by day than Tufted Ducks, often sleeping for flies in loose flocks.
long periods.They are typically tightly packed and
often made up largely of one sex, mostly males in the
UK. In late autumn, hundreds of migrants may appear
on a lake for a day or two and then move on at night.
In summer, Pochards are dispersed and generally rare
breeding birds in western Europe, including the UK.
VOICE Wheezing rise-and-fall call from displaying
male; purring growl from female.
NESTING Large pad of leaves and down in reeds near
water; 8–10 eggs; 1 brood;April–July. FLAPPING WINGS
FEEDING Dives from surface, taking seeds, shoots, Pochards rise up and flap their wings in a “comfort” movement used by
and roots; often feeds by night. many waterfowl species.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Widespread breeder on reedy
SCAUP 32; black TUFTED DUCK 2 lakes in E Europe, rather scarce in
2 browner, has head similar to 2;
white wing- see p.110 W. Common non-breeder on fresh
stripe; see p.109 darker body water in W Europe; big numbers
3 on migration in late autumn and
widespread smaller flocks on
flooded pits and similar waters.
Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 42–49cm (16 1 ⁄2 –19 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 72–82cm (28–32in) Weight 700–1,000g (25–36oz)
Social Large flocks Lifespan 8–10 years Status Secure
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