Pochards

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Pochard may refer to:

Three species of diving ducks in the genus Aythya:

• Common Pochard, Aythya ferina


• Baer's Pochard, Aythya baeri


• Madagascar Pochard Aythya innotata

or to three species in the genus Netta:

• Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina


• Rosybill or Rosybill Pochard , Netta peposaca


• Southern Pochard, Netta erythrophthalma

Diet / Feeding:

Pochard usually feed by diving or dabbling - and often at night. They will upend for food as well as the more characteristic diving. Their staple diet consists of aquatic plants with some mollusks, aquatic insects and small fish.

Ducks generally feed on larvae and pupae usually found under rocks, aquatic animals, plant material, seeds, small fish, snails and crabs.

Feeding Ducks ...

We all enjoy ducks and many of us offer them food to encourage them to come over and stay around - and it works! Who doesn't like an easy meal!

However, the foods that we traditionally feed them at local ponds are utterly unsuitable for them and are likely to cause health problems down the road. Also, there may be local laws against feeding this species of bird - so it's best to check on that rather than facing consequences at a later stage.

• Click here to find out which foods to feed them that will offer the nutrition they need to survive a cold winter and remain healthy

Please note that feeding ducks and geese makes them dependent on humans for food, which can result in starvation and possibly death when those feedings stop. If you decide to feed them, please limit the quantity to make sure that they maintain their natural ability to forage for food themselves - providing, of course, that natural food sources are available.

High Quality Species Photos, Videos and/or Articles Contributions are welcome! Click here to upload articles and images.

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