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Diving duck

Diving Ducks
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Anseriformes
Family:Anatidae
Subfamily†:Anatinae
Genera
Marmaronetta
Netta
Aythya
Rhodonessa
† See also Dabbling duck
Perching duck

The diving ducks or pochards are a group of 16 species of ducks including some of the most familiar Northern Hemisphere species. They are in the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. The latter article should be referred to for an overview of this very large family of birds.

This group of ducks is so named because its members feed mainly by diving, although in fact the Netta species are reluctant to dive, and feed more like dabbling ducks.

These are gregarious ducks, mainly of freshwater or estuaries. They are strong fliers and northern species are highly migratory. They do not walk as well on land as the dabbling ducks.

The diving ducks, together with the dabbling ducks and perching ducks make up the sub-family Anatinae.

The Marbled Duck[?] (Marmaronetta angustirostris) is difficult to classify, but is often also placed in the diving duck group.

The species are:


Male Hardhead.
Larger version



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