male	male female European distribution adults

Identification

The old name for this species was White-eyed Pochard but it was rightly considered that the reddish colouring of the bird's plumage was a more distinctive feature than the colour of its eyes. The deep mahogany-red colour is most obvious in the male but can also be seen in the female in good light. From a distance, a more striking feature is the white triangular patch under the tail. Some Tufted Ducks do show a similar patch, especially in late summer, but it is never as neat and contrastingly white as on a Ferruginous Duck. If you are in any doubt, then the peaked, almost triangular head of Ferruginous should clinch the matter. In flight Ferruginous Ducks look black and white like Tufted Ducks but their white wing bars look even more striking since they extend across all the primaries. The neater, more clearly defined white belly is another useful feature.

Habitat

Breeds and winters on shallow, well-vegetated lakes, marshes and fishponds.

Migration

Birds winter mostly in North Africa, with some moving south of the Sahara to West Africa. Birds from the Ukraine and southern Russia winter around the Mediterranean and Black Seas

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, Ferruginous Duck is classed as Scarce: broadly speaking, species that are covered in British Birds' annual review of scarce species (and forms of similar rarity).

Pugney's CP, W Yorks 03/01/2010	Craigavon Balancing Lakes, Armagh 09/01/2010	Dorney, Bucks 03/01/2010	Pugney's CP, W Yorks 27/12/2009	Pugney's CP, W Yorks 03/01/2010
Craigavon Balancing Lakes, Armagh 03/01/2010	Craigavon Balancing Lakes, Armagh 01/01/2010	Brookleys Lake, Staffs 02/01/2010	Brookleys Lake, Staffs 02/01/2010	Craigavon Balancing Lakes, Armagh 01/01/2010

 View all pictures of Ferruginous Duck

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This species has been reported in the following areas (Bird News Extra subscribers can click a county name for more details):

Ferruginous Duck breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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