Rhodonessa caryophyllacea
The Pink-headed Duck (*Rhodonessa caryophyllacea*) is an enigmatic and almost certainly extinct dabbling duck, historically native to the wetlands of South Asia. Males are striking, featuring a glossy blackish-brown body dramatically contrasted by a vibrant rose-pink head and neck, a slightly swollen pink bill, and reddish-orange legs. Females are notably duller, exhibiting a paler, often pinkish-white head with a darker crown and nape, and a lighter, duller brown body plumage. Measuring appr...
This duck historically inhabited dense, overgrown lowland wetlands, including pools, marshes, and slow-moving rivers, preferring areas with tall grass and emergent vegetation for cover.
Its diet consisted primarily of aquatic vegetation, seeds, and roots, supplemented with small molluscs and insects obtained through dabbling and grazing in shallow waters.
Detailed behavioral observations of the Pink-headed Duck are exceedingly scarce due to its rarity and secretive nature prior to its likely extinction. It was generally described as a shy and elusive bird, typically found alone or in small, scattered groups, rarely forming large flocks. Foraging i...
Historically, the Pink-headed Duck was primarily distributed across the lowlands of the Indian subcontinent, specifically in northeastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Its core range included the plains of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Irrawaddy river systems. It was predominantly a resident spe...
Critically Endangered
- The Pink-headed Duck is widely considered to be extinct, with the last confirmed sighting dating back to 1949 in India. - Despite its likely extinction, numerous expeditions have been launched, particularly in Myanmar, in the hope of rediscovering this 'lost duck. - It was historically prized b...