51-62 cm, an elegant duck with long neck and, in the male, long central tail feathers. A wintering species, it frequents tidal flats, the restored areas of Isola della Cona and the valli da pesca (fish reserves) and particularly the valle Artalina and Cavanata, while it is rare inland. In March and April many individuals that have wintered in more southern areas pass through and often have the plumage of the lower parts tinted by ferrous substances present in the sediment.