Once a common sight, pochards are medium-sized diving ducks whose numbers are now in decline. Though a few resident pochards can be spotted year-round, populations dramatically swell during winter.
A male pochard
Pochard facts
Scientific name: Aythya farina
Family: Anatidae
Diet: Plants, seeds, small fish, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
Pochards are diving ducks, known for their ability to plunge beneath the water in search of food – most of which is plant matter. They thrive in clean, deep waters.
Pochards are highly sociable ducks, gathering in large flocks in and out of the breeding season. In the UK, pochards are mostly winter visitors. Drakes (male ducks) tend to be tougher than the hens (females) and migrate further south. As a result, winter flocks in England and Wales are dominated by male pochards.
Pochards are familiar winter visitors in the UK, with approximately 30,000 birds arriving during the colder months. Most of these winter visitors are male pochards, journeying from the frigid landscapes of northern Europe and Russia to the relatively milder climates of Britain.
During the rest of the year, the UK hosts a smaller breeding population of around 500-750 pairs, primarily residing in England.
However, populations are declining due to habitat loss and climate change. Warming temperatures mean fewer pochards may need to migrate as far south in the winter, further affecting their numbers in the UK.
What do pochard ducks look like?
A male pochard
Pochards are stocky, robust ducks with a distinctive appearance. They have a short neck, a sloping head, and a long bill – classic features of a diving duck, with legs set back on the body for efficient swimming.
Male pochards are particularly handsome birds with bright chestnut-brown heads to contrast with their grey bodies, black breasts and tails, and dark grey bills. They also have a blue-grey band along the middle of their bodies. The male's eyes are especially notable, ranging from yellowy orange to red, becoming even brighter during the breeding season.
Females, though smaller and less flamboyant, have their own charm with dark, dull brown plumage and yellow-brown eyes. Ducklings are born with yellow eyes, and like adults, have grey legs and feet.
What's the difference between a pochard and a wigeon?
Wigeons and pochards might look alike with similar chestnut heads, but there are a few ways to tell them apart:
Male wigeons have golden patches on their heads
Pochards have pale grey wing bars
The pochard sits lower in the water with flatter backs compared to the wigeon's rounded shape
What noise does a pochard make?
Pochards are generally quiet birds. Males are mostly silent but may softly whistle when courting. Females sometimes produce a gentle growling sound.
Ducklings are a bit more vocal, making short calls that become faster and higher pitched when distressed.
What do pochards eat?
Pochards are skilled divers, feeding primarily beneath the water's surface. Their diet includes plants, seeds, waterweed, snails, and other aquatic invertebrates. Despite their prowess as divers, pochards can sometimes be seen dabbling at the surface, upending their bodies to reach food just below the water.
Pochards often mix among swans – particularly Bewick's and whoopers – who trample sediment in shallow water, dislodging food that the pochards are quick to scavenge.
Pochards can be found on various bodies of water across the UK, especially during the winter months when their numbers peak. They prefer deeper, nutrient-rich waters found in lowland areas, which are ideal for diving and foraging.
These ducks build their nests near the water's edge, with dense cover. Their nests are made with plant material and feathers.
Other species to look out for
Last Edited: 19 September 2024
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