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Common Pochard/Fuligule milouin
Aythya ferina
46.4586, 6.84146
Field Notes
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/6895078
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/6181443
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