Red-crested Pochard

Adult males have a striking, rounded orange-red head, a bright red bill, a black breast and lower neck, brownish-grey flanks, and a white belly. Females are mostly brownish-grey with a pale face and dark crown. Non-breeding males resemble females but retain a redder bill.

Male: bulbous orange-red head, bright red bill, black breast, whitish flanks. Female: plain brown body with a distinctly contrasting pale face.

Length: 53-57 cm, Wingspan: 85-95 cm, Weight: 800-1500 g.

Quiet and generally silent outside of breeding. Males emit a low whistle or soft purr, while females give a harsh, low quack.

Primarily feeds on aquatic plants, roots, and seeds, supplemented with small fish, insects, and mollusks by dabbling or diving.

Lowland wetlands, lakes, deep marshes, slow rivers, and brackish lagoons with dense aquatic vegetation.

Partial migrant. Populations in northern and eastern parts of its range migrate south for the winter.

Nests on the ground hidden in dense vegetation near water. Lays 6 to 12 greenish-buff eggs. Incubation lasts about 26-28 days and is performed entirely by the female.

Canvasback or Common Pochard, but easily distinguished by the bright red-orange head and bill of the male Red-crested Pochard.

Acts as a seed disperser and helps control aquatic invertebrate populations, serving as an indicator of wetland health.

Least Concern (LC) with a stable global population trend.

Look for them in large, reed-fringed lakes and wetlands. Using binoculars or a spotting scope near the water's edge in winter yields the best results.

Unlike many diving ducks, Red-crested Pochards often feed more like dabbling ducks, tipping up to reach vegetation rather than always diving.