Red-Crested Pochard (Netta rufina)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Netta ("duck") rufina ("golden-red")

 Adult male Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) at Laguna Navaseca, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 1000-1100g  /  Length: 57cm  /  Wingspan: 85-90cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Like the Mandarin and Ruddy duck, the Red-crested pochard is another species that has established itself after escaping from wildfowl collections. It is however a little more tricky than that in that it doesn't seem as well established, and indeed the feral population to some degree seems to mingle with the captive one in some places, confusing matters for all concerned.  The original populations are from Africa and Asia.  The current picture is of a wild individual taken in Laguna Navaseca in Spain where the species is a natural resident.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Netta
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare feral breeding species (10-21 pairs) and feral Winter visitor (320 birds)

 - Feral birds seen at Regent's Park.

SPAIN - Spanish - Pato Colorado ("Red Duck")
Reasonably numerous resident.

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Fairly numerous at Laguna Navaseca.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto