Red-nosed Diving Duck.
A rather peculiar duck, biologically considered a transitional form between true, or river, ducks and diving ducks. Its flight is lighter than that of diving ducks; it flies more willingly and longer than they do, and during the mating season, it also flies as long and often as true ducks. It often comes to the shore to feed, moves on land significantly more freely than diving ducks, and when necessary, runs quite quickly. It swims well but dives less frequently and not as well as diving ducks, although it dives more and better than river ducks. It sometimes feeds by diving but can also become a "candle," like true ducks. It takes off from the water more heavily than true ducks but lighter than diving ducks.
A large duck with a massive build (the male weighs 1.0–1.3 kg, and the female 0.9–1.1 kg). In spring, the male has a bright reddish head, which appears especially large due to its fluffy round crest; the back, neck, and underside are black, with white spots on the sides. The bill is orange, and the legs are pink. The female is brownish on top, with a light underside and cheeks. It dives well and often walks on land. It is a silent duck. The male whistles softly in spring, while the female makes a loud crackling "kerr-kerr-kerr."
During migration, flocks can be very large, with pairs clearly defined. In this species, males often significantly outnumber females, with many remaining single. Frequently, two or three males chase one female. Fights often occur among males. About a week to a week and a half after arrival, definite pairs are established, and the birds soon begin to breed. This diving duck nests both in separate pairs and in small nesting colonies. Its favorite habitats are lakes with reed thickets and floodplain water bodies with wide borders of sedges, horsetails, etc.
The nest is well concealed in vegetation and always close to water. The molting sites for males (and females that have failed to breed) are concentrated on large water bodies (Son-Kul, Chatyr-Kul). Nests are made in reed thickets. Clutches usually contain 6–10 grayish-olive or brownish-olive eggs. The incubation period lasts 28 days. The timing of chick emergence, as well as the entire breeding period, is highly stretched. Females with chicks lead a hidden lifestyle, staying in reed thickets.
A herbivorous duck. The red-nosed diving duck feeds almost exclusively on the green parts of plants - leaves of pondweeds, tender shoots of hornwort, algae, etc. Its large size and good quality meat place this species among valuable game birds.
Distribution: throughout the lakes and rivers of Kyrgyzstan. In Kyrgyzstan, it is found throughout all seasons of the year, but the highest numbers are noted during wintering. It is commonly encountered during migrations and stopovers, wintering at Issyk-Kul and other non-freezing water bodies. It nests at Issyk-Kul, Son-Kul, and Chatyr-Kul.
Red Book. Birds