Baer's pochard

Tachybaptus pelzelnii

Baer's pochard (Tachybaptus pelzelnii) is a small diving duck found in East Asia. It has a distinctive black head and neck with a chestnut-brown body and a bright white eye. This species prefers freshwater habitats such as lakes, ponds, and marshes, where it feeds on aquatic plants, invertebrates, and small fish. Baer's pochard is a migratory bird, breeding in eastern Russia and wintering in China, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. The population of Baer's pochard has been declining rapidly due to habitat loss, hunting, and pollution, leading to its classification as Endangered by the IUCN.

Habitat: Freshwater lakes, ponds, marshes