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Red-crested pochard
लाल सिर (lal sir)
A handsome diving duck whose drake has a rust-orange puffed head and a bright red bill, wintering on large open lakes.
How to recognise it
The head looks disproportionately large and round, and the bill glows red at any distance. Usually well out in open water.
Where to see it
Dehradun
One of the species that make a single north Indian reservoir worth a winter morning; flocks build from November and disperse by March.
Asan Conservation Reserve (Asan Barrage)
Kolkata
One of the ducks that make a single stretch of open water worth a winter morning; flocks build from November and disperse by March.
Rabindra Sarobar
Mayapur
In surveys at Chupi Char in 2019–2022 it ranked sixth by numbers among 145 bird species, and among the ducks only the lesser whistling duck was more plentiful.
Chupi Char, Purbasthali (in season)