THE COMMON POCHARD. 

 Fuligula ferina (Linnaeus). 

 Plate 48. 



The Common Pochard, Red-headed Poker, or Dunbird, as it is variously called, 

 though breeding in some favourable places in some of our English counties, 

 especially those along the eastern coast, is better known in our islands as a 

 common autumnal visitor, usually arriving in October and leaving in the spring. 

 It breeds on many of the Scottish lochs, but seldom in Ireland. 



This species is widely distributed over Europe and Asia, the birds which nest 

 in the colder parts moving for the winter to the Mediterranean countries. North 

 Africa, Egypt, India, China, and Japan. 



The Common Pochard is a more or less fresh-water species, seldom visiting 

 the sea unless under necessity, and is most at home on wide stretches of inland 

 water where it can find shelter and protection. 



The nest is placed among rushes and thick herbage near the water, and usually 

 contains from seven to nine eggs of a dull greenish colour. 



The food consists of the roots and other parts of various aquatic plants and 

 their seeds, and also of molluscs, water-insects, &c., mostly obtained by diving. 



The alarm call of both the male and female is a jarring croak, and the former 

 also emits in the breeding season a soft whistle. 



III. 



41 



F 



