Southern Pochard

Netta erythrophthalma

Southern Pochard Southern Pochard

There are two sub-species of Southern Pochard, one from South America (N. e. erythrophthalma) and one from southern/eastern Africa (N. e. brunnea).

The latter, also called the (South) African Pochard, is shown here.
 Southern Pochard male Southern Pochard female  Southern Pochard pair 
 The male Southern Pochard, above, is dark brown with red eyes and a blue bill tipped with black. The female Southern Pochard, above, has a scaup-like white patch at the base of her bill and white cheek patches on her face
 Southern Pochard female Southern Pochard  Southern Pochard 
Unsure whether the ones with brown eyes are female or juvenile; unsure whether the ones with red eyes and "female" plumage are female or non-breeding males -- all three were prevalent at same time of year.