male	male female European distribution at rest

Identification

The male is unmistakeable with his flamboyantly red head, white flanks and ridiculously pink bill. The female is subtler, browner in tone with pale cheeks and a dark cap recalling a female Common Scoter but with a longer, slimmer bill and longer, paler body. In flight, Red-crested Pochards of both sexes have a much more extensive white wingbar than any other European duck; all the secondaries and all the primaries look almost completely white in the field, making a stunning sight when seen in a large flock.

Habitat

Breeds and winters on well-vegetated lowland lakes and river deltas.

Migration

The species migrates short distances, wintering in two main areas. Some birds move to the western Mediterranean, centering around Spain and the Camargue. Others move to the Black Sea, especially around the Danube Delta.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Red-crested Pochard is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Neusiedler See, Austria 15/06/2010	Kingsmill Resr, Notts 08/08/2010	Arnold, Notts 19/06/2010	Arnold, Notts 20/06/2010	Tophill Low, E Yorks 19/06/2010
Tophill Low, E Yorks 19/06/2010	Bishop Middleham, Durham 18/06/2010	S'albufera, Mallorca, Spain 10/05/2010	Abberton Resr, Essex 22/05/2010	Abberton Resr, Essex 22/05/2010

 View all pictures of Red-crested Pochard

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Red-crested Pochard breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Macedonia
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob1960.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Red-crested Pochard	Edit this link
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