Baer's Pochard

BAER’S POCHARD

Baer's pochard (Aythya baeri) is a diving duck found in eastern Asia. It breeds in southeast Russia and northeast China, migrating in winter to southern China,Vietnam, Japan, and India.

At 41–46 cm, it is similar in size. Baer's pochard males are similar to those of the greater scaup (A. marila), but have a dark back and upper flanks; the white lower flanks and belly are conspicuous.

Formerly classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN, recent research shows that its numbers are decreasing more and more rapidly. It was consequently up listed to endangered status in 2008.

 In 2012 it was further up listed to critically endangered. Between 1987 and 2007, there were only eleven reports of groups of 100+ birds in mainland China.

Baer's pochard breeds around lakes with rich aquatic vegetation, nesting in dense grass, flooded tussock meadows, or flooded shrubby meadows. In winter, it occurs on freshwater lakes and reservoirs.