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Baer's Pochard
Paignton Zoo is home to 10 Baer’s pochards. They can be found on the lagoon next to our flamingos.
Baer’s PochardAythya baeri
Class:
Aves
Order:
Anseriformes
Family:
Anatidae
About the Baer's pochard
Baer’s pochard is a diving duck once widespread across East Asia, now one of the rarest ducks in the world. It inhabits freshwater lakes and marshes, feeding on aquatic plants and invertebrates.
Males have a dark head, pale flanks, and a black chest band. During the breeding season, pairs form within small groups.
Conservation
This species is classified as Critically Endangered, with wetland loss, hunting, and disturbance across China, Russia, Mongolia, and Southeast Asia driving dramatic population declines.