Red-crested Pochard

Netta rufina

Introduction

The handsome male Red-crested Pochard has a rather large, round, rusty-orange head and coral-red bill whilst the pale-cheeked female is more subdued.

It is highly possible that a few of the Red-crested Pochards seen in the UK have arrived from the European breeding population. However, due to its striking plumage, this is a species that is widely kept in captivity and it may be that most of the birds at large have a captive origin.

The Red-crested Pochard is established as a breeding bird in Britain, with Wetland Bird Survey data pointing to the Cotswold Water park as the main UK site, with over 200 birds regularly counted. The winter population is estimated to be around 600 individuals.

Key Stats

Status

Scarce

Weight

1.1kg

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

38k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

39 Pairs

1150% expansion

No data

570

221% expansion

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Red-crested Pochard

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Red-crested Pochard, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Call:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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UK (breeding)

39 Pairs (2010-14)

Source

BOU Category

A C2

Source

First Record*

Norfolk, 1818

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Red-crested Pochard has a wide but scattered distribution around the UK. Whilst small numbers of wild birds from continental Europe probably occur, most of the birds observed in the UK come from naturalised breeding populations with the main population originating from the Cotswold Water Park (Lever 2009). Numbers have increased and there has also been a substantial increase in the breeding range distribution since the 1968–72 Atlas (Balmer et al.2013).

Distribution

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There is a naturalised, self-sustaining population of Red-crested Pochards, centred on the Cotswold Water Park on the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire border. In winter, Red-crested Pochards are widely distributed in south and central England, where they are found mainly in freshwater habitats.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in breeding season

% occupied in breeding season

1.7%

No. occupied in winter

275

% occupied in winter

9.1%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Red-crested Pochard

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Red-crested Pochard

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or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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Red-crested Pochards have undergone a large range expansion over the last 40 years.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11)

1150 %

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

221 %

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Winter Distribution change for Red-crested Pochard

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution change for Red-crested Pochard

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

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Red-crested Pochards are localised residents, recorded on less than 1% of complete lists.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Red-crested Pochard movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Red-crested Pochard, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

lifespan

Maximum age from a ringed bird

7 years, 6 months, 25 days (set in 1965)

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Red-crested Pochard

Classification and Codes

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Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Scientific name: Netta rufina
Authority: Pallas, 1773

BTO 2-letter code: RQ
BTO 5-letter code: RECPO
Euring code number: 1960

Alternate species names

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Catalan: xibec comú
Czech: zrzohlávka rudozobá
Danish: Rødhovedet And
Dutch: Krooneend
Estonian: punanokk-vart
Finnish: punapäänarsku
French: Nette rousse

German: Kolbenente
Hungarian: üstökösréce
Icelandic: Kólfönd
Irish: Póiseard Cíordhearg
Italian: Fistione turco
Latvian: lielgalvis
Lithuanian: šalmine antis
Norwegian: Rødhodeand

Polish: helmiatka (zwyczajna)
Portuguese: pato-de-bico-vermelho
Slovak: hrdzavka potápavá
Slovenian: tatarska žvižgavka
Spanish: Pato colorado
Swedish: rödhuvad dykand
Welsh: Hwyaden Gribgoch

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Red-crested Pochard from BTO scientists.

Causes of Change and Solutions

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Causes of change

The main drivers of the increases in this species are uncertain, but the naturalised population has arisen from captive birds. Numbers remain relatively small and it is unclear whether this species will fill an ecological niche which will enable it to increase further and become more widespread.

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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