Parques de Portugal

<p> <em>Netta rufina </em>(Pallas, 1773)</p>

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  • Red-crested pochard

  • Netta rufina (Pallas, 1773)

  • Anatidae

  • The red crested pochard is a diving duck with an elongated body and a big round head. The male has a red beak and, in the mating season, its head is golden orange, which contrasts with the black found in the neck and belly, with the light brown on its back and white of its flanks. The female is brown, exhibiting a white belly, grey beak, dark brown top of the head and white face and throat. It can grow to be 57 cm long and have 90 cm span.

  • Estuário do Tejo Nature Reserve

    Lagoas de Santo André e da Sancha Nature Reserve

  • Lisboa e Vale do Tejo

    Alentejo

  • Endangered (resident population) | Near threatened (visiting pop.)

  • The red crested pochard inhabits coastal or inland waters, in open spaces with well developed vegetation, such as coastal ponds, estuaries, bogs, salt water quagmires, dams and weirs.

  • All year long

  • The red crested pochard is essentially vegetarian, feeding on seeds, roots and green parts from aquatic plants, and occasionally on invertebrates or small aquatic vertebrates. It obtains its food on the surface or below water, by diving.

  • The Portuguese population of this species is estimated to be between 100 and 500 nesting couples and 169 wintering individuals.