Common Pochard

Aythya farina

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

No crest

Widespread winter visitor; unrecorded in Sri Lanka. Large, with domed head. Pale grey flight feathers and grey forewing result in different upperwing pattern from other Aythya ducks. Male has chestnut head, black breast, and grey upperparts and flanks. Female has brownish head and breast contrastingwi thpaler brownish-grey upperparts and flanks; usually shows indistinct pale patch on lores, and pale throat and streak behind eye. Eye of female is dark and bill has grey central band. Does not show white undertail - coverts of Ferruginous Duck. Eclipse male and immature male recall breeding male, but are duller with browner breast. Highly gregarious, often in flocks of several hundred. Lakes and reservoirs with large areas of open water; occasionally rivers.