Found over most of Europe and the temperate parts of Australia, Asia and Japan. Length 38 - 45cm (15 - 18in) it inhabits overgrown still or stagnant water, building a nest on the surface or at the margins from vegetation such as rush stems, sedge Etc, often with a connecting 'bridge'.
Female ♀ lays 8 - 15 mauve coloured black spotted eggs which hatch in 22 days. The male ♂ is black with an orange or red patch on the upper beak and head front area, dark grey underneath with 2 - 3 white stripes. The female is light to mid brown, mottled, with no head patch. They feed on small aquatic animals, seeds and plants.
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