Pochard
Aythya ferina
Overview
The Pochard is a red-listed diving duck that has suffered a severe decline across Europe over the past 30 years. The drake is handsome — chestnut-red head, black breast and pale grey body — but is often seen sleeping with head tucked into back, the grey body making them easy to miss. At Marshside they use the deeper parts of the main lagoon. Numbers in Britain have fallen sharply, making even a few birds significant.
At a Glance
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Habitat | Deep freshwater lagoon · Reservoir · Coastal lake |
| Diet | Aquatic vegetation, seeds, invertebrates — obtained by diving |
| UK population | Around 500 breeding pairs; winter population around 48,000 — red-listed due to severe European decline |
| Sefton Coast | Regular winter visitor to Marshside in small numbers; numbers have declined significantly in recent decades |
| Conservation | UK Red List |
Where to See It
Marshside RSPB main lagoon. Any larger freshwater body on the Sefton Coast.
Identification
Drake: rich chestnut-red head, black breast and stern, pale grey body. Duck: brown with greyish cheeks and indistinct pale eye-stripe. Often sleeps during the day — check rafts of diving ducks carefully.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Scan rafts of diving ducks at Marshside for the chestnut head of the drake. Often sleepy during the day — look for the distinctive head colour even on sleeping birds.
Conservation Status
UK Red List
This species is on the UK Red List for Birds (BoCC5), indicating serious concern about its population decline or unfavourable conservation status. Monitoring this species on the Sefton Coast contributes to national population tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Pochard declined so severely?
Pochard numbers in Europe have fallen by around 50% since the 1980s, caused by a combination of factors: deterioration of breeding wetlands in eastern Europe, overhunting during migration, and poor breeding success linked to predation and water quality decline. The UK winter population has halved in just 25 years, making wintering birds at sites like Marshside increasingly precious.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.