The pochard is a migratory bird that spends the winter and the south and west of Europe. It is mostly found in Ireland between October and February. Often feeding at night, it is a diving duck that Eats aquatic plants, molluscs, aquatic insects and small fish. Their breeding habitat consists of marshes and lakes. 

 

The adult male has a long dark bill with a grey band, red head and neck, black breast, red eyes and a grey back. Females are duller grey-brown, brown head and body and narrower grey band on bill.

 

The pochard is amber-listed in Ireland due to small breeding population and localised wintering locations. It is declining in Europe and categorised as Vulnerable. 

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Image (c) by Tony Hisgett used under Creative Commons License BY 2.0.