Common Pochard
Aythya ferina
Pochards are expert diving ducks, often submerging for 15 seconds or more to forage on the lakebed.
- Scientific name
- Aythya ferina
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Aythya
- IUCN Red List status
- Vulnerable
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Deep freshwater lakes, slow-moving rivers, and marshes with abundant emergent vegetation.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; feeds on aquatic plants, seeds, mollusks, insects, and small fish.
- Range
- Europe, Asia, North Africa
- Size
- 42-49 cm in length with a 72-82 cm wingspan
- Lifespan
- 7-10 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, pollution, lead poisoning from spent shot, and hunting pressure.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Observe from a distance to avoid causing stress. If found injured, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator. Do not feed bread, as it lacks nutritional value and pollutes the water.
The common pochard /ˈpɒtʃərd/ ( Aythya ferina ) is a medium-sized diving duck. The scientific name is derived from Greek aithuia an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin ferina , "wild game", from ferus , "wild".
Photo: Andrew Bazdyrev, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/9c93acba-65b3-4d7d-a836-01482eaad3fb.md