Duck of the Week: Southern Pochard
The southern pochard is found across much of South America and Africa.
The southern pochard is the next selection for Duck of the Week!
Found in the continent of Africa from Ethiopia down to the Cape of Good Hope, the southern pochard is also found throughout much of South America. The female of the species as seen above is mostly brown with white highlights on its head. Meanwhile, the male is almost entirely brown and has dark red eyes—which leads to this duck’s alternative name, the red-eyed pochard.
These ducks are known to be divers, often dipping under the water in search of aquatic vegetation, while often supplementing their diet with small insects.
I find their dark chocolate brown plumage to be especially stunning and it’s remarkable how vast their range is, including two continents separated by the Atlantic Ocean. I hope to see one in person someday. If you’re in the southern hemisphere, have you had the opportunity to see one yourself?