Ferruginous Duck

The ferruginous duck is a medium-small diving duck about 38–42 cm long. Breeding males are rich dark chestnut with yellow eyes and sharply contrasting white undertail coverts; females are duller brown with dark eyes. Both sexes show a white belly and broad white wing stripe in flight. The peaked head, long bill and bright white undertail help separate it from female pochards and other brown diving ducks (Wikipedia, general species account).

It favours shallow freshwater rich in submerged and floating plants and edged by dense reeds, although migrants also use brackish pools, lagoons and coastal water. Eastern populations breed from central Asia toward Mongolia and winter in South and Southeast Asia, where Vietnam receives visitors. Birds dive and dabble for aquatic plants, seeds, insects, molluscs and crustaceans. Females conceal nests near water and incubate seven to ten eggs for about 25–27 days (Wikipedia, general species account).