Recoveries by Condition for Red-crested Pochard

Game species in Spain, France, Russia and Azerbaijan (Defos du Rau, Perennou, 2007). The recoveries based on alive and dead birds have almost equal share over time (48 vs. 49.4%). However, dead bird recoveries (mostly shot) heavily predominated in the past (73% pre-1960 and about 85% during 1961-1990), while they formed only 18.4% after 1991. Inversely, during the last three decades about 81% of all recoveries are based on alive birds – mostly identified from a distance (nasal tags and metal rings read in the field). Most alive bird recoveries come from Switzerland, France and The Netherlands.

Three regions are responsible for ca. 75% of all encounters – C, SW and W Europe.

Most encounters obtained in three “waves” – early 1960s, mid-1980s and mid-2010s, depending on the running projects.

Annual Movements for Red-crested Pochard

Some populations undertake post-breeding moult migrations to places distant from the breeding sites (Madge, Burn, 1988). The species undergoes a flightless wing-moulting period in late summer, females moulting a month later than males and non-breeders (Scott, Rose, 1996). Timing of migratory movements is rather consistent across migratory populations within Europe. In autumn some movements take place in Sep-Oct, but the main migration occurs mostly in early Nov and the wintering grounds are usually reached by Dec. Spring migration takes place in Feb-Mar, most breeding sites are reached by Apr (or early May in the northernmost parts of the range – SW Siberia).

The resident populations in SW and C Europe, as well as in the UK, are locally dispersive; the latter is considered feral.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Red-crested Pochard

Weather conditions determine strong fluctuations and dynamic movements between breeding, moulting and wintering sites (Keller et al. 2020). During winter the species could either form big concentrations or be highly dispersed (Scott, Rose, 1996).

Breeding birds from C, N & W Europe are encountered from late autumn until early spring mostly in the W Mediterranean region, less often – along the Atlantic Coast and the big pre-alpine lakes. Local breeders on the Iberian Peninsula undertake short within-region movements to coastal waters or inland wetlands for wintering. Post-breeding dispersal of the birds from the Black & Caspian Sea regions starts in late summer, later on they are found wintering locally or in the E Mediterranean. Birds ringed in late summer at the Caspian Sea have been found in SW Siberia during breeding season.