# Red-crested Pochard (*Netta rufina*) The Red-crested Pochard is a beautiful duck with a bright red head and a fluffy, orange crest. They like to swim in lakes and ponds, and they are great divers, searching for tasty plants underwater. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Red-crested Pochard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Netta_rufina_-_Jona_%28SG%29_Stampf_2011-04-24_15-55-50.jpg&width=800) Photo: Roland zh, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Netta_rufina_-_Jona_%28SG%29_Stampf_2011-04-24_15-55-50.jpg) ## Appearance The Red-crested Pochard male has a striking rusty-orange head and bright red bill, contrasting with its black chest, white flanks, and grey back. Females are much duller, with a brownish head, pale cheek patch, and dark bill, making them less conspicuous. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Netta ## Interesting facts - Female Red-crested Pochards sometimes lay eggs in other birds' nests! - Their bright red eyes in males are quite striking! - They build nests hidden in thick reeds near water! - Young ducklings can swim and feed themselves almost immediately! ## Special abilities - **Water-tight Feathers:** Red-crested Pochard has waterproof feathers that keep them dry and warm even after long swims underwater. - **Acrobatic Airman:** Red-crested Pochard can take flight quickly with strong wings, allowing them to escape danger or migrate far distances. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 53-57 cm - **Wingspan:** 85-90 cm - **Weight:** 0.8-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 7-10 years - **Speed:** 75 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 8-10 - **Incubation:** 26-28 days ## Diet & Feeding They mostly eat aquatic plants, seeds, and small water creatures from under the water. - **Primary Foods:** aquatic plants, seeds, roots, aquatic insects, molluscs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Adults and ducklings can be prey. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-eagle) (*Haliaeetus albicilla*) — Large eagles may hunt adult ducks. - **Eats:** Curled Pondweed (*Potamogeton crispus*) — A primary food source: stems and leaves. - **Eats:** Great Pond Snail (*Lymnaea stagnalis*) — They forage for these snails underwater. ## Traits - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch or feed them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-crested Pochard? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Red-crested Pochard? 53-57 cm ### What is Red-crested Pochard's wingspan? 85-90 cm ### How much does Red-crested Pochard weigh? 0.8-1.5 kg ### How long does Red-crested Pochard live? 7-10 years ### How fast can Red-crested Pochard move? 75 km/h ### What does Red-crested Pochard eat? They mostly eat aquatic plants, seeds, and small water creatures from under the water. ### Where is Red-crested Pochard usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [s’Albufera de Mallorca Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/salbufera-de-mallorca-natural-park) — Illes Balears, ES · Park - [Parc Natural de l’Albufera, Valencia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albufera-natural-park-valencia) — Comunitat Valenciana, ES · Park - [Saladas de Chiprana Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saladas-de-chiprana-nature-reserve) — Aragón, ES · Park - [Alcázar de San Juan Lagoon Complex Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alcazar-de-san-juan-lagoon-complex-nature-reserve) — Castilla-La Mancha, ES · Park - [Ebro Delta Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ebro-delta-natural-park) — Cataluña, ES · Park - [Englischer Garten München](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/englischer-garten-munchen) — Bayern, DE · Park [View all places to see Red-crested Pochard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-crested-pochard) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Red-crested Pochard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-crested-pochard)