COMMON POCHARD 
Nyroca ferina (Linnaeus) 
Anas ferinay Linn. Syst. Nat., x. Ed., i. p. 126 (1758). 
Anas penelope, Briss. Orm. vi., p. 384, pi. xxxv., fig. i (1760). 
Anas ferina, Linn. Syst. Nat., xii. Ed., i. p. 203 (1766). 
Anas rufficollis, Scop. Ann. i. Hist. Nat., p. 66 (1769, nec Pall.). 
Anas lurida, S. G. Gmel., Reise dwich Russl., i. p. 70 (1770). 
Anas erythrocephalay S. G. Gmel., torn, cit., p. 71 (1770). 
Le millouin, Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois., ix. p. 216 (1783). 
Anas rufa, Gmel., Syst. Nat., i. p. 515 (1788). 
Nyroca ferina (L.), Fleming, Phil, of Zool., ii. p. 260 (1822); Salvadori, Blanford, Stuart- Baker, Cat-birds, 
Brit. Mus., &c. 
Athya ferina (L.), Boie, Ibis, 1822, p. 564 ; Jerdon, Hume, Adams, Butler, &c. 
Fuligula ferina (L.), Steph. in Shaw's Gen. Zool., xii., pt. ii. 193 (1824); Davids and Hend., Hume, Hume and 
Marshall, Legge, Butler, Reid, Taylor, Dresser, Naumann, Nilsson, &c. 
Platypus ferinus (L.), C. L. Brehm, Lehrb. Naturg. Ewi. Vog., ii. p. 828 (1824). 
Athya erythrocephala (Gmel.), C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl., p. 919 (1831). 
Anas marila, Malh. Faun. Orn. Sicil., p. 221 (1843, nec Linn.). 
Fulix ferina (L.), Salvadori, Fauna d'ltalia, Uccelli, p. 265 (1872). (L.) 
Local Names. — Pochard, Poker, Red-head, Red-headed Poker, Red-eyed Poker, Dun-bird (generally, 
but not exclusively, applied to females and young), Red-headed Wigeon, Snuifle-headed Wigeon, 
Red-headed Curre, Dun Curre {English)', Lacha-mhasach {Gaelic); Hwyadan Bengoch {Welsh) \ 
Homari {Arabic) \ Ridwak {Bosnian)] Patka Kaljuza, Patka glavata {Croatian)) Polak velky 
{Czechisch) ; Golesbak {Dalmatian) ; Taffeland, Brunakke, Rodnakke {Danish) ; Punasotka, 
Punatelka {Finnish) ; Milouin, Rouget, Tetard a tete rouge {French) \ Road-hoaded, Slabb-Enn 
{Heligoland) ; Tafeleend, Roodkop, Valinger {Dutch) ; Moriglione, Collorosso, Mouretton, Magasson 
(female), Fischone {Italian) ; Braimla hanvra {Maltese) ; Taffeland {Norwegian) ; Kaczka ponur 
{Polish) ; Tarrantana, Catullo {Portuguese) ; Rijegolowka, Tebernedj, Krasnogolowaja, Krasnogo- 
lowyi myrok {Russian) ; Rodhalsad Dykland, Brunand, Brunta {Swedish) ; Busciu, Caburossu 
{Sardinian) ; Caberson, Anach gavaita, Capiroto, Buixot, Sivert, Cenizo, Boix, Moixo, Tarrantana 
{Spanish); Kermesibrasch-giri {Tartar); Hamvas, Barat recze {Hungarian); Tafelente, Tafel- 
moorente {German). 
There are two distinct forms of this Duck — N. ferina ferina (L.), which inhabits the 
Palsearctic regions, and N. ferina americana (Gmel.), which is only sub-specifically 
different, and inhabits the Neartic regions. The latter may be recognised by its larger 
size and more intense colouring and the black edges to the wing-coverts and no black at 
the base of the bill. So far the American race has not occurred in Europe. Gmelin, Wilson, 
Bonaparte, Audubon, Schlegel, and others regard this American Pochard as identical with 
the European species, but Sclater, Gray, Newton, Baird, &c., look upon it as a distinct 
species {Fulig. americana). Allen, Coues, and others, I think correctly, look upon it only 
as a good sub-species (F. ferina americana). 
Egg. — The eggs are a somewhat broad oval with the shell waxy and smooth but not 
glossy. In colour a pale greenish grey, generally tinged with yellow. After being blown they 
often assume a dull brownish drab colour. Average size of 100 eggs, 61.4x43.6 mm. Max., 
68x45.5 and 64x46.5; min., 57.2x43 and 61 X39.2 (or in inches, 2.42x1.72) (F. C. R. J.). 
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