Southern pochard
Scientific name: Netta erythrophthalma
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Males are strikingly dark with a deep chestnut head, black breast and upperparts, and bright red eyes—the defining feature. Females are duller brown overall with darker crowns and pale eye-rings; both sexes show white wing patches in flight.
Size and weight
Males 48–54 cm, 600–700 g; females 46–52 cm, 550–650 g.
Habitat
Southern pochards favour deep, open freshwater lakes and reservoirs with sparse emergent vegetation. They prefer areas with clear water and minimal disturbance, typically at low to moderate elevations.
Distribution
Resident and dispersive across southern Africa from the Cape through Botswana, Zimbabwe, and into East Africa. Found on large, clear lakes and reservoirs.
Diet
Primarily aquatic invertebrates (chironomid larvae, freshwater mussels, and other benthic organisms) obtained by diving; some aquatic plants, especially in winter.
Behaviour
Highly gregarious and crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk. They spend much of the day resting on open water in tight flocks and become mobile in late afternoon, moving to feeding grounds.
Hunting tips
Look for compact rafts of birds in early morning or late afternoon near deep-water zones. Approach from downwind using terrain contours and reed beds as cover. Move slowly during low-light periods when birds are transitioning between rest and feeding areas.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.