Pochard

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

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

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Red listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Vulnerable
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Vulnerable
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(II,III), WBD(II*,III*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA

Numbers of breeding Pochard have remained relatively stable, with some fluctuations, at around 600–800 pairs, for the ten years to 2019 following a strong increase since it was first monitored by the RBBP in 1986 (Eaton et al. 2021). However, this population increase contrasts with a range contraction in the UK, with a 39% decrease in the number of occupied squares since the 1968–72 Breeding Atlas (Balmer et al. 2013). Widespread declines and range losses have occurred in Europe and the species is classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List (BirdLife International 2021).

UK winter population

-73% decrease (1995/96 to 2020/21)

The winter distribution of the Pochard is concentrated in lowland areas, where waterbodies have high nutrient status, and the species is generally absent from the acidic, nutrient-poor waterbodies of the uplands. Rich lakes are also preferred for breeding and the map shows the concentration of breeding birds in eastern lowland areas of England.

There has been a 21% contraction in winter range in Britain & Ireland since the 1981–84 Winter Atlas. The loss is most prominent in Ireland, reflecting a long-term decline in the wintering population.

Pochards are present throughout the year; there is a small breeding population and the species is most likely to be seen in winter.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	22 years 0 months 10 days (set in 1999)
Typical Lifespan	3 years with breeding typically at 1 year
Adult Survival	0.65±0.014   ( Female: 0.65±0.014)
Juvenile Survival	0.55 (in first year)

Wing Length	Adults	217.3±6.4 | Range 208–225mm, N=553
	Juveniles	215.1±12.1 | Range 208-225mm, N=107
	Males	218.7±6.1 | Range 210–226mm, N=436
	Females	212.2±4.6 | Range 204–220mm, N=116

Body Weight	Adults	1.13±0.1 | Range 0.980–1.30kg, N=473
	Juveniles	1150±150.3558 | Range 850–1350g, N=86
	Males	1.14±0.1 | Range 1.00–1.30kg, N=375
	Females	1.07±0.09 | Range 0.910–1.20kg, N=97

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	G*
Field Codes	2-letter: PO | 5-letter code: POCHA | Euring: 1980

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

Increases in Pochard numbers in western Europe in the twentieth century are possibly linked to the eutrophication of water bodies which resulted in increased availability of food and cover (Fox et al. 2016). Subsequent widespread declines in Europe may have been caused by a number of factors, among which are abandonment of fish farming and declines in water quality, hyper-eutrophication, increases in the abundance of fish species which compete for food resources, increased predation from non-native species such as mink, and losses of gull colonies (which help improve breeding productivity by providing protection from predators) (Fox et al. 2016, Mischenko et al. 2020). However, the stable trend in the UK suggests that the factors affecting the species in Europe are currently not a significant issue here and it remains unclear what are the main drivers of population trends in the UK.