Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Red-crested Pochard

Netta rufina

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of British Columbia Birds of Ontario Birds of Quebec Birds of England Birds of Bedfordshire Birds of Buckinghamshire Birds of South Yorkshire Birds of Berkshire Birds of Bristol Birds of Cambridgeshire

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ontario Ducks, Geese & Swans of Quebec Ducks, Geese & Swans of England

See what's near you right now

The Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Netta
Species rufina

Where it lives

Central, southern Europe to northern China

Europe & Northern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 1.1 kg
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Red-crested Pochard feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Red-crested Pochard is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL c, s Europe to n China.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 25.8 cm and a tail of around 6.9 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Red-crested Pochard — Flight call

Recorded by Philippe_Grange Licence: Public Domain

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Red-crested Pochard?

The Red-crested Pochard is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.

Where does the Red-crested Pochard live?

The Red-crested Pochard is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL c, s Europe to n China, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Red-crested Pochard belong to?

The Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Red-crested Pochard eat?

The Red-crested Pochard feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Red-crested Pochard migrate?

The Red-crested Pochard is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Red-crested Pochard endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Red-crested Pochard make?

1 real field recording of the Red-crested Pochard — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Red-crested Pochard's range?

The Red-crested Pochard has a mapped global range of about 6.1 million km².