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Glite Dictionary
Aythya ferina

Aythya ferina

9.9
A medium-sized diving duck with a reddish head and grey body
  • noun
  • Specialized
: Aythya ferina
  • Unlike surface-feeding ducks, the Aythya ferina dives underwater to feed on aquatic plants.

Examples

  • The Aythya ferina is often seen on European lakes during the winter months.

  • The Aythya ferina is often found in lakes and wetlands.

  • Birdwatchers spotted a pair of Aythya ferina nesting along the riverbank.

  • Did you see the Aythya ferina at the nature reserve?

  • Birdwatchers spotted a pair of Aythya ferina nesting along the riverbank.

  • The Aythya ferina is often seen on European lakes during the winter months.

  • Unlike surface-feeding ducks, the Aythya ferina dives underwater to feed on aquatic plants.

Synonyms

pochard
vsAythya ferina
  • UK
1 9.9

A heavy duck that dives for food with a red head and grey body

is the scientific Latin name used in biology instead of the common name

Surface Forms

Aythya ferina singular
Aythya ferinas plural

Morphology

Aythya + ferina

This is a Linnaean binomial: a learner who knows 'Aythya' as a genus would correctly infer this is a species of diving duck, but the specific epithet 'ferina' is not informative (not found in the dictionary) and does not yield the common name or detailed traits. Because the taxonomic format gives partial information (it signals a species in the Aythya genus) but does not allow full derivation of 'common pochard' or its characteristics, the expression is best judged semi-transparent.

Etymology

Aythya ferina may come from old Greek and Latin words: Aythya for a 'diving duck' and ferina for 'wild'. So the name paints a simple picture of a heavy, wild diving duck — the common pochard — that dives under water to feed.