Pink-headed Duck

About

Possibly extinct; a distinctive large diving duck formerly found in the Ganges plains of India and Myanmar. Males had a deep pink head and neck contrasting with dark chocolate-brown body. Last confirmed sightings in the 1940s. One of Asia's greatest bird mysteries.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	50.2 cm	19.8 in
Weight	963.8 g	34.00 oz

Identification

Plumage

Unmistakable; males have strikingly bright pink head and neck contrasting with dark chocolate-brown body and wings. Pink bill. Females have paler pink head. Possibly extinct; last confirmed 1949. Critically endangered or extinct.

Habitat & Range

Historically inhabited secluded freshwater pools, lakes, and marshes in tall grass and forest in the Ganges and Brahmaputra plains of India, Nepal, and Myanmar. Now possibly extinct or extremely rare.

🌲 Forest 🌾 Grassland 🌿 Wetland

Geographic Range

Breeds in the northern prairies of Canada and US; winters in the Gulf Coast and along the Atlantic coast south to Florida.

Diet & Feeding

Probably extinct; fed on fish, molluscs, and aquatic invertebrates in Indian subcontinent wetlands; diet recorded historically.

Conservation Status

Critically Endangered

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: SA.

Clutch Size

5-10

Sound

Song

Critically Endangered; likely gives a soft, resonant quacking note judging from close relatives. The Pink-headed Duck may have produced a distinctive, mellow whistle unlike other pochards.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Family	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Rhodonessa
Species	Rhodonessa caryophyllacea

Distribution

Pink-headed Duck has been recorded in 1 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇳🇴 Norway

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Pink-headed Duck eat?

Probably extinct; fed on fish, molluscs, and aquatic invertebrates in Indian subcontinent wetlands; diet recorded historically.

Where does the Pink-headed Duck live?

Historically inhabited secluded freshwater pools, lakes, and marshes in tall grass and forest in the Ganges and Brahmaputra plains of India, Nepal, and Myanmar. Now possibly extinct or extremely rare.

Is the Pink-headed Duck endangered?

The Pink-headed Duck has a conservation status of Critically Endangered.

How does the Pink-headed Duck nest?

Nest type: SA.

What does the Pink-headed Duck sound like?

Critically Endangered; likely gives a soft, resonant quacking note judging from close relatives. The Pink-headed Duck may have produced a distinctive, mellow whistle unlike other pochards.

How big is the Pink-headed Duck?

The Pink-headed Duck has a wingspan of 50.2 cm, weight of 963.8 g.

What order and family does the Pink-headed Duck belong to?

The Pink-headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.