Red crested Pochard (Rhodonessa rufina) is a kind of waterfowl (55 cm length) which lives in lakes and gravel pits with reed-fringed edges. The bird belongs to the family Anatidae of order Anseriformes. It is common in
Haryana during winter. The remarkable feature of Red crested Pochard is its orange-brown head. The females, brown in color, have pale cheeks. The males have red beak and pale flanks. Diets include stems, roots and seeds of aquatic vegetation. The birds carry out three types of movements - dive, dabble and up-end - for collecting their food.
Red crested Pochard can be seen in Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur of Rajasthan.
