Recent nesting of the Red-crested Pochard <i>Netta rufina</i> (Pallas, 1773) confirmed in Algeria

The El Kala wetland complex, located in the far northeast of Algeria, provides ideal ecological conditions for wintering migratory waterbirds. Among these sites, the Mekhada marsh, designated a Ramsar site in 2004, stands out as one of the most biologically diverse wetlands in the region. It supports several emblematic waterbird species, including the Red-crested Pochard ( Netta rufina ), which is the focus of this study. This species is rarely observed in Algerian wetlands and typically occurs in very small numbers. In June 2025, an exceptional observation was made of a female Red-crested Pochard accompanied by her ducklings at the Mekhada marsh. To our knowledge, this represents the first documented breeding record of Netta rufina in the El Kala wetland complex.