Red-Crested Pochard Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
The Red-Crested Pochard is naturally found in a wide area which ranges from southern and Central Europe and across Asia as far as Mongolia. With their attractive appearance Red-Crested Pochards were first introduced into the UK in private collections.
Over the years many birds escaped and started to nest in the wild. There is now an estimated breeding population of around 200 Red-Crested Pochards in the UK but this number swells to more than 600 during the winter months. With birds flying in from colder areas to overwinter in the relatively mild conditions found in Great Britain.
Over the last 100 years or so, Red-Crested Pochards have established nesting sites across the Netherlands and into Germany. With many of these birds migrating to warmer southern areas when the temperature drops in late Autumn.
In this article we’ll take a closer look at the early life cycle of the Red-Crested Pochard from the building of the nest, through to egg laying. We’ll then follow the progress from hatching to fledging, keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
How Long Does A Red-Crested Pochard Live?
The average lifespan of the Red-Crested Pochard is anywhere between 5 to 10 years in the wild. The oldest recorded Red-Crested Pochard in the wild reached an age of 12 years and 9 months according to ring data.
However, Red-Crested Pochards in captivity have lived for as long as 15 years or more.
How Fast Can A Red-Crested Pochard Fly?
The Red-Crested Pochard can reach speeds of around 34 to 40 mph (55 to 65 km/h) when in flight. This impressive speed allows them to migrate to warmer climes in winter as well as escape from predators when necessary.
Like all ducks, the Red-Crested Pochard goes through a period known as “the moult”. This is where they lose their ability to fly and replace their summer plumage with a more subdued, camouflaged winter plumage.
At this time they are at their most vulnerable as they lose their flight feathers. This non-flight period can last anywhere from 20 to 40 days.
Are Red-Crested Pochards Aggressive?
Like many birds, Red-Crested Pochards can be aggressive towards others of their species when trying to claim a territory or attract a mate. This aggression is evident in the way that males will flap and bite towards other males particularly during the breeding season.
However, outside of the breeding season Red-Crested Pochards tend to be quite sociable birds and will flock together with other diving ducks when foraging for food.
What Is A Red-Crested Pochard’s Habitat?
Red-Crested Pochards prefer freshwater wetlands with quiet waters like; slow-flowing rivers, inland lakes, reedbeds, lagoons and areas with aquatic plants.
When migrating, Red-Crested Pochards will use coastal habitats like estuaries and river deltas. During winter months they can often be observed in large groups on open bodies of water.
How Long Does It Take For A Red-Crested Pochard To Build A Nest?
It will typically take 1 to 2 days for a Red-Crested Pochard to build a nest. The female is mainly responsible for nest building and she will select a site close to water but hidden in vegetation.
She will either make a scrape nest by creating a shallow depression in the ground, or make a nest on floating vegetation in the reedbeds. The nest will be made from roots, twigs and leaves and then lined with down feathers and softer vegetation.
Eggs
Once the nest has been successfully established, the female will lay her eggs and we move on to the next stage in the life cycle of the Red-Crested Pochard.
When Do Red-Crested Pochards Lay Eggs?
Red-Crested Pochards typically lay their eggs between March and August. The exact timing depends on the location and climatic conditions. For example, Red-Crested Pochards breeding in Spain will lay their eggs earlier in the year than those breeding in Kazakhstan.
In the UK the eggs are typically laid in April ensuring that the chicks can become fully independent by September.
How Many Eggs Does A Red-Crested Pochard Lay?
The Red-Crested Pochard can lay anywhere between 4 to 14 eggs with 9 or 10 being the average clutch size. It is possible for nests to contain twice as many eggs but this is usually caused by egg dumping.
Egg dumping is where a female will lay her eggs in another duck’s nest. Red-Crested Pochards only raise one brood per season.
What Do Red-Crested Pochard Eggs Look Like?
Red-Crested Pochard eggs are smooth, slightly glossy and a pale grey-yellow or pale green colour. They are around 56 x 42 mm in size although the colour and size can vary based on geographical location.
Red-Crested Pochard eggs tend to be larger in Armenia for example when compared to those from Austria.
How Long Do Red-Crested Pochard Eggs Take To Hatch?
The female incubates the eggs for around 26 to 28 days until they hatch. The male is usually close by watching out for intruders and providing food when necessary.
In some cases the female will leave the nest for a brief while to find food but the male doesn’t get involved with the incubation process at all.
Chicks
Once the eggs hatch we move onto the next stage in the life cycle of the Red-Crested Pochard, the chicks.
How Many Chicks Does A Red-Crested Pochard Have?
The number of chicks that hatch should correspond with the number of eggs laid. However, from a clutch of 10 eggs, there’s a good chance that only around 8 chicks will survive to the hatching stage.
Some eggs are unfertilised and if egg dumping has occurred there is a lower survival rate of eggs to chicks.
When Do Red-Crested Pochard Chicks Open Their Eyes?
Red-Crested Pochard chicks are hatched with their eyes open and covered in downy feathers. Like all precocial chicks, Red-Crested Pochard chicks typically leave the nest within hours of hatching and follow their mother to the water in search of food.
The younglings will stay with their mother learning how to fend for themselves for around 30 to 40 days as their feathers grow and their muscles develop. Having said that, some chicks leave their mother’s care and join broods of other species until they are ready to fledge.
When Do Red-Crested Pochard Chicks Fledge?
Red-Crested Pochard chicks typically take their first flight when they are around 45 to 50 days old. This is usually just around the time when their migratory journey to their wintering grounds start.
Many young fledglings have such a strong bond with their mothers that they remain together long after they fledge. This is particularly true of those raised in the UK where they remain residents all year long.
SEE ALSO: Nightjar Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Frequently Asked Questions
The average lifespan of the Red-Crested Pochard is around 5 to 10 years in the wild. However, some birds can survive for longer with one individual reaching the age of almost 13 years according to ring data.
Red-Crested Pochard eggs are smooth, slightly glossy and a pale grey-yellow or pale green colour.
In the UK there are some resident populations of Red-Crested Pochards spread across the UK. They were originally thought to be rare visitors but it is now believed that these birds originally escaped from private collections and nested in the wild.
