Fr: Nette demi-deuil
Ang: Rosy-billed Pochard
All: Rosenschnabelente
Esp: Pato Picazo
Ita: Fistione beccoroseo
Nd: Peposaka-eend
Sd: pampasand
Photographers:
Jean Michel Fenerole
Photos d’Oiseaux du monde
Eduardo Andrés Jordan
MIS AVES – AVES DE ARGENTINA
Dubi Shapiro
Dubi Shapiro Photo Galleries
Nicole Bouglouan
PHOTOGRAPHIC RAMBLE
Text by Nicole Bouglouan
Sources:
HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD vol 1 by Josep del Hoyo-Andrew Elliot-Jordi Sargatal - Lynx Edicions - ISBN: 8487334105
GUIDE DES CANARDS, DES OIES ET DES CYGNES – de Steve Madge - Delachaux et Niestlé - ISBN: 2603013769
Ducks, Geese and Swans: Species accounts (Cairina to Mergus) published par Janet Kear – Editeur: Oxford University Press, 2005 – ISBN: 0198610092, 9780198610090 – 908 pages
Arthur Grosset's Birds (Arthur Grosset)
Composition of the diet of Netta peposaca (Birds: Anseriformes) in Santa Fe province, Argentina
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Rosy-billed Pochard
Netta peposaca
Anseriformes Order – Anatidae Family
INTRODUCTION:
The Rosy-billed Pochard is endemic to South America where it occurs in Argentina, C Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and S Brazil.
It is usually found in wetlands within marshes, swamps and small lakes with dense aquatic vegetation. It is omnivorous, but the diet is mainly vegetarian and includes seeds, roots, grasses and sedges. It rarely dives for food.
During the breeding season, the nest is built in the riverine vegetation, often in shallow water and among the emerged aquatic plants. The female alone performs all the nesting duties.
The Rosy-billed Pochard has very large range and the population is considered to be increasing. However, the species is poisoned and hunted in some parts of the range, especially in Argentina where it is considered as a pest in ricefields, but currently, it is not globally threatened.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD:
Biometrics:
Length: 53 – 57 cm
Wingspan: 72 – 84 cm
Weight: M: 1180 g – F: 1004 gr
The Rosy-billed Pochard adult male has black upperparts finely vermiculated grey or white. On the upperwing, the wing-coverts are sooty-brown with darker tips. We can see a green tinge in good light. The flight-feathers are white with black tips, forming a black trailing edge. The tail is like the upperparts.
On the underparts, the breast is glossy purplish-black, whereas belly and flanks are vermiculated black-and-white. The undertail-coverts are white. The underwing is whitish, with blackish leading and trailing edges well visible in flight.
It does not moult into the eclipse plumage.
Head and neck are glossy purplish-black.
The bill shows a pronounced knob at the base, especially during the breeding season. The bill itself is pink, becoming paler towards the black nail. The large knob is crimson and increases both in size and colour intensity during the mating period.
The eyes are red to yellowish-orange.
Legs and webbed feet are yellow to orange, but the webs are blackish.
The adult female is almost all brown to dark brown overall, but crown, breast and mantle are darker. The breast is sometimes barred with darker brown. Chin and throat are white. The belly is mostly whitish but the undertail-coverts are white. Both on upperwing and underwing, the secondaries are white and form a pattern similar to that of the male’s wings.
Over the years, her face becomes whiter, especially around the bill base.
The bill is bluish-grey with black nail. The bill base is only slightly swollen.
The eyes are brown.
Legs and webbed feet are dull yellow-orange to greyish.
The juvenile/immature resembles female in appearance, but with darker brown underparts.
RANGE:
The Rosy-billed Pochard is found in Argentina, C Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and S Brazil. The species is partially migratory, depending on the range.
HABITAT:
The Rosy-billed Pochard frequents wetland habitats such as marshes, small lakes and shallow freshwater swamps, especially wetlands with dense floating aquatic vegetation.
It can be seen sometimes in more open or deeper waters after breeding. It also feeds in ricefields in Argentina and S Brazil where it is considered as a pest in these regions.
During the breeding season, the nest is built in wetlands, usually within tall grasses.
CALLS AND SONGS: SOUNDS BY XENO-CANTO
The Rosy-billed Pochard gives a deep “honk” very typical of the family Anatidae - Order Anseriformes, but this call is much deeper than that of the Mallard.
The vocalizations of the Rosy-billed Pochard are associated with defensive and/or courtship behaviour. The male may give three different calls including a low, guttural “krrrr”, also a weak “wheee-ow” and a soft whirring sound.
The female has two vocalizations described as a harsh “kraa” given to invite the male to copulate, and a rarely heard sound of 3-4 syllables descending in pitch.
But generally, the vocalizations of this species are relatively quiet.
BEHAVIOUR IN THE WILD:
The Rosy-billed Pochard feeds mainly on plant materials including roots, sedges, aquatic plants and grasses.
Some insect species such as Coleopterans, Dipterans, Hymenopterans, Formicidae and also Arachnida are part of the diet, but in much smaller quantities than vegetal items.
The diet of this species is dominated by seed consumption, because seeds are high in energy and help the duck to control and keep its body temperature.
The Rosy-billed Pochard is classified as a diving duck, but it feeds more like a dabbling duck. It feeds by dabbling and up-ending in shallow water. This species rarely feeds on land, although it spends more time ashore than other pochards.
It is often seen in small groups, and flocks are also observed during the breeding season. They are highly social ducks.
Prior to the breeding season, the Rosy-billed Pochard performs courtship displays during the spring. Displays consist of conspicuous movements by both male and female. They pretend to preen their plumage, bob the head and extend the neck.
In this species, the pair bonds are temporary and seasonally monogamous. During this period, the fleshy knob of the male increases in both size and colour.
The nest is built in dense vegetation, over water or at water edge. The female alone performs the nesting duties.
The Rosy-billed Pochard is partially migratory, depending on the range. The southernmost populations reach the northern regions to spend the winter in Brazil and S Bolivia, some of them coming from N Argentina, 1,400 km distant. There are several records in September/January in Falkland Islands and SE Peru.
These movements are associated with water conditions and food resources.
This species is a strong flier, but the short, broad wings require fast wingbeats, and take-off may sometimes be difficult.
In addition, it does not walk easily on land, because the legs are placed further back on the body and are more suitable for swimming underwater.
REPRODUCTION OF THIS SPECIES:
The breeding season usually takes place in October/November, but in February/March in Paraguay. Broods are reported until April in S Brazil.
The Rosy-billed Pochard breeds in single pairs or in loose groups. The species is suspected to be monogamous with pair-bonds lasting a single season. The female alone performs all the nesting duties.
The nest is placed over water or at water edge, within the dense vegetation. It is built by the female with plant matter, usually fresh herbaceous materials. It is lined with a large amount of down.
The female lays up to 10 greenish-grey eggs. She incubates alone during 27-29 days. The chicks, or ducklings, are buffy-brown above and yellow below. They are raised by the female without the help of the male, and generally fledge within 50-75 days.
She may sometimes lay her eggs in another nest. In this case, the broods occasionally merge and several females raise the young together.
The Rosy-billed Pochard sometimes hybridises with the Red-crested Pochard
PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:
The Rosy-billed Pochard has extensive range in which it is not globally threatened.
However, it is considered as a pest in ricefields in Argentina, where it is affected by hunting pressure.
The global population is estimated to number 667,000 mature individuals, and the population trend is increasing.
The Rosy-billed Pochard is currently evaluated as Least Concern.
