Specie's Page                                               Water Fowl - Ferruginous Ducks

Ferruginous Duck:

UK Status: Resident, and overwintering visitor in Britain. The first Ferruginous Ducks were first recorded in the British Isles in1971. Most birds seen are probably wild, but these ducks are kept as ornamental birds, and some have probably since gone feral.

Habitat: This is a shy bird and isn't often seen on open water, instead it tends to spend it's time skulking in reed beds and under bridges etc.

Breeding: This birds breeds in Asia and Africa. It is possible that domesticated birds in collections breed in the UK. These ducks are very scarce in the British Isles, so breeding in the wild in the UK is a matter of debate.

Comment: This duck is also known as the Ferruginous Pochard, Common White-eye and the White-eyed Pochard. World wide this duck is becoming scarcer, and is considered at risk of extinction.

BE AWARE PLEASE:  Ground nesting birds are very vulnerable to having their eggs and chicks smashed or crushed. This can happen when people are unaware of their presence, or when dogs are allowed to run loose during the breeding season. Nests are very well hidden, and are not usually spotted until it's to late. Dogs often have no concern for ground nesting birds, please keep them on their leads from April through to the end of September.