Ferruginous duck

Aythya nyroca

The ferruginous duck, also ferruginous pochard is a medium-sized diving duck from Eurasia. The scientific name is derived from Greek " aithuia" an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and "nyrok", the Russian name for a duck.
Ferruginous pochard - Aythya nyroca  Anatidae,Animalia,Anseriformes,Aves,Aythya nyroca,Chordata,Danube delta biosphere reserve,Europe,Ferruginous duck,Ferruginous pochard,Geotagged,Romania,Spring,White-eyed pochard,Wildlife

Appearance

The adult male is a rich chestnut colour with a darker back and a yellow eye. The pure white undertail helps to distinguish this species from the somewhat similar tufted duck. The female is similar but duller, and with a dark eye.
Ferruginous Duck at Keoladeo NP Bharatpur Aythya nyroca,Ferruginous duck,Geotagged,India,Keoladeo,Winter,bharatpur

Habitat

Their breeding habitat is marshes and lakes with a metre or more water depth. These ducks breed in southern and eastern Europe and southern and western Asia. They are somewhat migratory, and winter farther south and into north Africa.

These are gregarious birds, forming large flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving ducks, such as tufted ducks and common pochards. Hybrids between this species and the common pochard are sometimes referred to as "Paget's pochard".
White-eyed pochard female - Aythya nyroca  Anatidae,Animal,Animalia,Anseriformes,Aves,Aythia nyroca,Aythya nyroca,Bird,Black sea,Bulgaria,Chordata,Europe,Ferruginous duck,Geotagged,Nature,Poda protected area,Spring,Wildlife

Food

These birds feed mainly by diving or dabbling. They eat aquatic plants with some molluscs, aquatic insects and small fish. They often feed at night, and will upend for food as well as the more characteristic diving.

References:

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Status: Near threatened
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderAnseriformes
FamilyAnatidae
GenusAythya
SpeciesA. nyroca