Rosy-billed pochard

The rosy-billed pochard is one of five pochard species that make up the genus Netta, which is one of 31 genera of the subfamily Anatinae. Within subfamily Anatinae, there is a tribe called Aythini. This tribe was thought to be limited to the Northern Hemisphere (what was believed to be the Palearctic), and experienced three or four bursts of speciation, one of which was by the ancestor of the rosy-billed and southern pochards. The species is highly autapomorphic and is placed in a sister-group with the southern pochard, but evidence for this relationship is lacking. Additionally, they have been known to hybridize with the red-crested pochard and other pochards from ornamental waterfowl collections. The rosybill is monotypic and thus no further classifications exist. ==Description==

Like many other members of family Anatidae, the rosy-billed pochard exhibits significant sexual dimorphism. Males have a purplish-black head, neck and breast with gray sides, a white area on the crissum (the area around the cloaca), and a bright red bill and red eyes. Despite these pochards being strong fliers, their blunt-tipped wings require a faster wing-beats than that of many ducks and they have some trouble taking off. They do not walk as well on land as other dabbling ducks because their legs are placed further back on their bodies to help propel them when underwater. Their minimum wingspan recorded is 72 cm, while the maximum is 84 cm. ==Distribution and habitat==

Rosy-billed pochards nest within tall grasses in wetlands, mainly in areas that extend from the central provinces of Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, and Buenos Aires, southwards to Río Negro. Seasonal dry periods are common in central Argentina and they force birds to move towards larger water areas in late summer. By early fall, these areas are often dry and individuals are forced to move to find more water and better food sources elsewhere. An increase in population size can be seen during wet periods. ==Behaviour==

Rosy-billed pochards are highly sociable ducks and may congregate in flocks of thousands of individuals. However, their diet is dominated by seed consumption. ==Use by humans==

Rosy-billed pochards are commonly used by humans for consumption, as pets/display animals and even in horticulture. Ownership of individuals is relatively accessible and they can be purchased even online. ==Conservation status==

Current population trends show that populations are increasing and are not severely fragmented. There is currently no action recovery plan, however there is a systematic monitoring scheme in place. Conservation sites exist across the entire range of rosybills and they occur in at least one protected area. ==References==