Madagascar Pochard

À propos

One of the world's rarest ducks; considered possibly extinct until 2006 rediscovery. A small brown pochard with a white eye in males. Found on an extremely small highland lake in Madagascar. Critically Endangered; intensive conservation efforts underway to save the tiny wild population.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Envergure	37,4 cm	14.7 in
Poids	685,0 g	24.16 oz

Identification

Plumage

Males have brown head and neck; dark brown back; pale gray flanks with white undertail. White eye. Blue-gray bill. Females browner with pale face patch and brown eye. Critically endangered; rediscovered 2006 in Madagascar.

Habitat & Range

Restricted to Lake Matsaborimena in the highlands of northern Madagascar at about 1,500 m altitude. Uses deep-water mountain lakes with aquatic vegetation. Critically Endangered; tiny wild population.

🌿 Wetland

Répartition géographique

Breeds across the northern boreal zone of Canada and Alaska; winters along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America.

Diet & Feeding

Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in shallow coastal and freshwater habitats.

Statut de conservation

Critically Endangered

IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Incubation: 26-28 days.

Taille de la couvée

6-10

Son

Chant

Critically Endangered; produces a soft, Aythya-like purring and grating quacking. Calls are not well-documented; likely similar to closely related Ferruginous Duck based on phylogeny.

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordre	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Famille	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Aythya
Espèces	Aythya innotata

Distribution

Madagascar Pochard has been recorded in 1 countries.

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Présent Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇳🇴 Norway

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the Madagascar Pochard eat?

Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in shallow coastal and freshwater habitats.

Where does the Madagascar Pochard live?

Restricted to Lake Matsaborimena in the highlands of northern Madagascar at about 1,500 m altitude. Uses deep-water mountain lakes with aquatic vegetation. Critically Endangered; tiny wild population.

Is the Madagascar Pochard endangered?

The Madagascar Pochard has a conservation status of Critically Endangered.

How does the Madagascar Pochard nest?

Incubation: 26-28 days.

What does the Madagascar Pochard sound like?

Critically Endangered; produces a soft, Aythya-like purring and grating quacking. Calls are not well-documented; likely similar to closely related Ferruginous Duck based on phylogeny.

How big is the Madagascar Pochard?

The Madagascar Pochard has a wingspan of 37.4 cm, weight of 685.0 g.

What order and family does the Madagascar Pochard belong to?

The Madagascar Pochard (Aythya innotata) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.