Diving 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:

• Marbled Duck[?] Marmaronetta angustirostris

• Pink-headed Duck[?] Rhodonessa caryophyllacea (extinct)

• Red-crested Pochard[?] Netta rufina
• Southern Pochard[?] Netta erythrophthalma
• Rosybill[?] Netta peposaca

• Canvasback Aythya valisineria
• Pochard Aythya ferina
• Redhead Aythya americana
• Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
• Hardhead Aythya australis
• Baer's Pochard[?] Aythya baeri
• Ferruginous Duck[?] Aythya nyroca
• Madagascar Pochard[?] Aythya innotata
• New Zealand Scaup[?] Aythya novaeseelandiae
• Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
• Greater Scaup[?] Aythya marila
• Lesser Scaup[?] Aythya affinis