Couple of Ferruginous White-eyes (female in front). © Jan Harteman
Aythya nyroca
Dutch: Europese witoogeend
German: Moorente
French: Fuligule nyroca
The Ferruginous Duck is currently listed as Near Threatened (A2c,d; A3c,d) on the basis of past and projected future declines caused by habitat loss, disturbance and hunting. The status of the European population (12,000-18,000 pairs, occupying 25-49% of the global breeding range) was recently reassessed in Birds in Europe (BirdLife International 2004). Following a large decline in Europe during 1970-1990 (Tucker & Heath 1994), the species continued to decline during 1990-2000, when up to 45% of birds were lost (particularly in south-east Europe). The European population overall declined by >30%. Western and central Asia hold the majority of the global population, but population estimates and trends remain poorly known (see attached table). There is some evidence of declines (Wetlands International 2002), but little information is available from the countries where the species seems to be most numerous (Mongolia and China; S. Delany in litt. 2004). Is there sufficient evidence to infer declines of over 30% over the last ten years for the total Asian population? If so, the species would warrant uplisting to Vulnerable.
© Jan Harteman / Harteman Wildfowl / www.harteman.nl
Female with ducklings. Photo © R.J. Breman, the Netherlands
Female. Photo © Jan Harteman
Female. Photo © G. Groenewald
Ferruginous Duck: what are the trends in Asia?
2005 - From the Globally Threatened Bird Forums @ BirdLife.org
Male (in front) and female. Photo © Jan Harteman
