Orange head, coral-red bill and black chest: it is impossible not to notice the male red-crested pochard, one of the most elegant ducks in Europe. The female is more discreet, brown with pale cheeks. And it is very close to home: Spain is home to some of its most important populations, in wetlands such as Doñana, the Albufera of Valencia or the Ebro Delta. It has a very special way of courting: the male offers food to the female, which is highly unusual among ducks. A true gentleman. It depends on plants that grow underwater, so its presence is a good sign: where there are red-crested pochards, there is usually a healthy wetland. Protecting them means protecting our lagoons.