Pochard, Common

Conservation status:

Winter Visitor

Description:

Sloping forehead leading into long bill is characteristic. No crest present. Male has chestnut head and neck, contrasting with black breast and pale grey body. Black bill has has pale grey band in centre. Eclipse male resembles female but greyer above. Female fairly nondescript with dullish brown head and breast, chin and eye-stripe paler, dark bill becomes paler towards broad black tip. In flight, appears longer and plumper than Tufted Duck. Wings are greyish brown and have indistinct pale grey wing-bar.