The Southern Pochard (Netta erythrophthalma) is a duck. This bird is sociable and gregarious. It has been seen in groups of up to 5,000.
Subspecies and Ranges
The South American (Southern) Pochard N. e. erythrophthalma
The South American Pochard has a fragmented range and is found from Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina to Chile. Here it occurs in a wide variety of shallow fresh waters with submerged vegetation, from the lowlands up to 3,700 metres.
- The African (Southern) Pochard N. e. brunnea.
The African Pochard occurs from the Cape to the Ethiopian highlands on water bodies with or without emergent vegetation. They are suspected to have been strong migrants in the past but the construction of numerous farm dams seems to allow them a more sedentary lifestyle. They reach highest concentrations in Africa’s central plateaus and in the south-western winter rainfall region.
More Duck Resources
Breeding and Nesting
The clutch consists of six to fifteen eggs.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Netta erythrophthalma. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concernMaclean, G.L. Harrison, J.A. Southern Pochard. In: The atlas of southern African birds. Vol. 1: Non-passerines.
