Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina): Photos, Range and Facts

Overview

The red-crested pochard (Netta rufina) is a large diving duck. The scientific name is derived from Greek Netta "duck", and Latin rufina, "golden-red" (from rufus, "ruddy"). Its breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lakes in southern Europe and it extends from the steppe and semi-desert areas on the Black Sea to Central Asia and Mongolia, wintering in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. It is somewhat migratory, and northern birds winter further south into north Africa.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to see it

Destination guides featuring this bird

Nepal Jagdishpur Reservoir A Ramsar-listed reservoir in the western Terai with large winter flocks of ducks and Sarus Cranes nearby.

JJanuary: Best
FFebruary: Best
MMarch: Good
AApril: Poor or no data
MMay: Poor or no data
JJune: Poor or no data
JJuly: Poor or no data
AAugust: Poor or no data
SSeptember: Poor or no data
OOctober: Poor or no data
NNovember: Good
DDecember: Best

Range and habitat

Breeds from Europe (Iberian Peninsula northward to southern Denmark and Poland) eastward to central Asia (northwestern China and western Mongolia); somewhat local in Europe, more widespread to east; resident in southwestern Europe; elsewhere, winters from eastern Mediterranean eastward to northern India, south-central China, and northern Myanmar.

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.

Red-crested Pochard

Overview

Where to see it

Destination guides featuring this bird

Range and habitat

Continents

Countries

Sources and further reading