Alternative Names (Synonyms)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Other references:
B138

Aviculture references:
B29, B30, B31, B40, B44.9.w1, B94, B95, B97, B128.w1, B129.
D1, D8.

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
• The Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Earthkind
• The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

• Waterfowl Management Guidelines
• Proceedings of the Waterfowl Information Network Conference 1999
• Wetlands, Industry and Wildlife
• London Waterfowl Project FAQ's
• The Electronic Library: further reading for "Wildlife: Oil Spill Response"

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Waterfowl
• Pochards

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Diving Ducks (D1)

Aviculture Information

Notes

• Pochards are diving ducks which spend most of their time on water, and are ungainly on land. They are generally hardy, sociable and easy to maintain in captivity. They should be kept with deep water available for diving, three to seven feet suggested (B29), or at least half the area 60cm and preferably one metre deep (D1), with shallow sloping banks for easy exit from the water, also islands, good marginal vegetation and loafing areas. Water providing a good supply of natural animal and vegetable food is preferred.
• These ducks may be kept in mixed collections with dabbling ducks, including smaller species such as teal. They should be fed wheat in water, encouraging their natural diving behaviour. Pellets should also be fed. They may breed better if a group rather than single pair kept, as this allows their normal group displaying activity.
• 12x12x14 inch (30x30x35cm) nest box with 5 inch (12.5cm) entrance hole suggested, placed under cover at the edge of the pond (B128.w1).

(B29, B40, B94, B128.w1, D1).

Species-specific information:

• Common pochards are winter-hardy, easy to maintain, and not aggressive.  Adults should be provided with a diet of pellets, grain, bread and plenty of green food.
• These ducks are fairly easy to breed, lay in ground level nest boxes, nest baskets or holes above the water or in dense bankside vegetation, from May onward (B31), April to May (B29). They sit well but high losses are common in parent-reared ducklings. They will often lay a second clutch if the eggs are removed. Hand rearing the ducklings is not difficult; water should be provided for swimming from the beginning. Ducklings require much live food (e.g. insects, earthworms) initially, also fine-chopped green food.
• This species hybridises readily, particularly with Amazonetta brasiliensis - Brazilian teal, Aythya nyroca - Ferruginous pochard, Aythya fuligula - Tufted duck and other Aythya spp. (hybrids with Aythya species are often fertile); also hybridises with Anas spp., Netta spp. and Bucephala clangula - Common goldeneye.

(B29, B31, B40, B94, B95, B97, B129).

Aviornis UK Ringing Scheme suggested average closed ring size: L 11.0mm. (D8).

• Accommodation of Casualty Waterfowl
• Rearing of Birds - Artificial Rearing - Waterfowl considerations
• Catching and Handling of Waterfowl
• Feeding of Casualty Waterfowl
• Release of Casualty Waterfowl
• See also: Oil Spill: Species Identification and Special Considerations

Measurement & Weight

Head

Legs

Plumage

Eclipse: Similar to female but greyer, with darker breast and lacking facial pattern.

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

Independent by or before fledging.

Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

Iceland, eastward from western Europe through central Asia to south-east of former USSR; scattered populations from Turkey through the southern Palearctic to north-east China, north Japan.

• London: In the London Area, "common winter visitor and migrant, scarce breeder." A few dozen breeding pairs in 2000, including several nesting in Inner London. Up to 200 or more birds at some sites in winter, such as Walthamstow Reservoir, Broadwater Lake and Wraysbury gravel pit. (J322.65.w1)

Southern populations sedentary, northern populations migrate south to Mediterranean basin, Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, south-west of former USSR, Indian subcontinent, south-east Asia, Japan.

Vagrant to Faeroes, Azores, Canary islands, Cape Verde Islands, Philippines, Guam, Hawaii.

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Habitat

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Abundant (B1)..

• This species is listed on Schedule 2 - Part I (Birds which may be killed or taken outside the close season, 1 February to 31 August except where indicated otherwise: Notes on the revised schedules state "NOTE: The close season for ducks and geese when below high water mark is 21 February to 31 August") of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)
• This species is listed on Schedule 2 - Part I (Birds which may be killed or taken outside the close season, 1 February to 31 August except where indicated otherwise: Notes on the revised schedules state "NOTE: The close season for ducks and geese when below high water mark is 21 February to 31 August") of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)
• This species is listed on Schedule 3 - Part 3 (Birds which may be sold alive at all times if ringed and bred in captivity: Notes on the revised schedules state "Birds which may be sold dead from 1 September to 28 February (NB: It is illegal to offer for sale at any time of the year any wild goose, moorhen, gadwall or goldeneye, although they are legitimate quarry species outside the close season)) of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)

Captive Populations

Trade