The Madagascar Pochard - Aythya innotata – was thought to be extinct in the late 1990s and was rediscovered in 2006. It is claimed to be the rarest duck in the world. Today only 60 individuals remain which include the 18 ducklings hatched in a captive breeding centre. It is endemic to Madagascar.

Description

The Madagascar Pochard is a medium-sized diving duck. The male is dark chestnut-rufous all over except for a white eye, white undertail-coverts, white underparts and conspicuous white wing-bar along bases of flight feathers. Bill is dull brown with paler, bluish subterminal band. Female is duller brownish, lacking white eye.

Food

They feed on aquatic plants and invertebrates.

Conservation Status – Critically Endangered

This species was rediscovered in 2006 following the last sighting in 1991. It is currently known from a single location where 25 mature individuals were seen in 2008. While it may also persist at other sites, the population is likely to be tiny and therefore it is classified as Critically Endangered. There do not appear to be any immediate threats to the species at the site of its rediscovery, but given that it has a tiny known population, it faces significant risk from stochastic events and genetic factors, particularly inbreeding depression.

Birdwatching

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