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Aythya ferina
This common pochard was trying to get some rest on a cold January morning on choppy waters. In breeding plumage the adult male has a bright brownish-red head and neck. The bill is dark with a grey-bluish band, the breast black, the eyes red and the body plumage grey.
The shore of a large central European lake.
Present all year but winter migrants do visit.
Spotted on Jan 12, 2013
Submitted on Jan 15, 2013
4 Comments
It was a cold day J, but it's just their standard way to rest. I do wonder though whether this species practices unihemispheric sleep like mallards do, hence the one eye always open!
Fantastic spotting. :) Warming his beak? :)
Thanks Satyen!
Lovely eyes :-)