page_title: Common pochard
section_title: Ecology
hierarchical_section_title: Common pochard / Ecology
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Tafelente Aythya ferina, Ei, Coll. Museum Wiesbaden, Fundort: Ismaning, Bayern, 28.05.1973, leg. W. Abelmann English: Common pochard Aythya ferina, egg, Coll. Museum Wiesbaden, Origin: Ismaning, Bavaria, 28.05.1973, leg. W. Abelmann
context_page_description: The common pochard is a medium-sized diving duck. The scientific name is derived from Greek aithuia an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin ferina, "wild game", from ferus, "wild".
context_section_description: These are gregarious birds, forming large flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving ducks such as the tufted duck, with which they are known to hybridise.
  These birds feed mainly by diving or dabbling. They eat aquatic plants with some molluscs, aquatic insects and small fish. They often feed at night, and will up-end for food as well as the more characteristic diving. According to the article 'Patterns in the diving behaviour of the pochard, Aythya ferina: a test of an optimality model' Pochard's have a behavioral preference when it comes to their feeding patterns. This behavioral preference is that Pochards prefer shallower water in comparison to deeper water even though the food concentration in deeper water may be higher.
  In number of countries the population of Common Pochard is decreasing mainly due to urbanization of the natural habitats and their transformation, as well as due to overhunting.  
  The pochard is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
caption: Eggs, Collection Museum Wiesbaden, Germany
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