Common Pochard/Fuligule milouin

Description:

The male common Pochard (pictured here) has a dark bill with a grey band, a bright reddish head and neck, a black breast, striking red eyes and a grey back. The female (not shown) is less bright, with a brown head and body and a narrower grey bill-band. These ducks are migratory, and spend the winter in Southern and Western Europe as well as North Africa.

Habitat:

Found on the shores of lakes and ponds. Shown here spending the winter on Lake Geneva in the company of other diving ducks such as tufted ducks (second shot). Distribution: Eurasian.

Notes:

This duck is closely related to the smaller ferriginous duck (Aythya nyroca), the plumage of which is almost entirely brown: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/689... http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/618...