Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufina
A diving duck of larger lakes and reservoirs, especially with fringing reeds. Male striking and unmistakable with large, rounded, rusty-orange head, long red bill, and black breast. Female rather drab but distinctive: dirty buff overall with pale cheeks, dark face, and rounded brown cap. In flight, both sexes show a thick white wing stripe and whitish underwings. Feeds mainly by dabbling and upending. A common feature of waterfowl collections in European town and city parks.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Netta rufina
- Authority
- (Pallas, 1773)
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Netta
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : c, s Europe to n China
- Non-breeding range
- n Africa and s Asia
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Oriental Pratincole
Glareola maldivarum
Twisting and turning on long, angular wings, this relative of the sandpipers and plovers gives a swallowlike impression in flight. Adults are brown overall with an elegant black necklace and pale yellow throat. When in flight, note dark flight feathers, chestnut underwing coverts, bright white trailing edge to the wings, and a flashing white rump. Juveniles are a mottled gray-brown above and lack the adult's necklace. Flight call a harsh “tarrack.”
White-throated Cacholote
Pseudoseisura gutturalis
Chunky brown bird of Argentina’s Monte desert region. From other cacholotes by reduced crest, whitish throat, and grayish plumage. Forages on or near ground, but will rest or sing from high exposed perches, especially telephone poles or tall, bare trees. Song a raucous, very long series of squeaky but dry notes, often given in duet. Calls very dry, almost reminiscent of woodpecker taps.
Spotted Tody-Flycatcher
Todirostrum maculatum
Tiny, subtly colorful flycatcher of riparian and secondary growth. Large-headed with a flat boat-shaped bill. Yellow with a gray head and fine black streaking all over. Song an even-paced series of high chip notes, usually transitioning into doubled notes, “peet, peet, peet-it, peet-it, peet-it, …”.
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