The Netherlands is home to a diverse array of duck species. As a waterlogged country with extensive wetlands, rivers, canals and ponds, the Netherlands provides ideal habitat for many types of ducks. Some duck species are native and breed in the Netherlands, while others migrate through the country or spend the winter there.
In total, around 20 species of duck have been recorded in the wild in the Netherlands. The most commonly sighted ducks include the Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Shelduck, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Common Teal, Red-crested Pochard and Ferruginous Duck. Some rarer vagrants and escaped captive ducks are also sometimes spotted.
Native Ducks of the Netherlands
The most ubiquitous duck species commonly seen in the Netherlands is the Mallard. The Mallard is native across most of Europe and Asia, perfectly at home in the Netherlands’ landscape of rivers, canals, lakes, ponds and marshes. Mallards may be spotted dabbling in shallow water or waddling on land. Drakes have the distinctive green head and grey body, while females are mottled brown. Mallards are present year-round and breed in the Netherlands.
Other ducks that are resident and known to breed in the wild in the Netherlands include:
– Common Shelduck – A large and striking duck with a dark green head, white body and chestnut breast band. Often seen in estuaries and along the Wadden Sea coast.
– Common Pochard – A diving duck with a rounded head and long tail. Breeds on freshwater lakes and winters on coastal waters. Males have a copper-red head and pale grey body.
– Tufted Duck – A small black diving duck with a tuft on the back of its head. Breeds on lakes and winters along the coast.
– Northern Shoveler – A large dabbling duck with a huge shovel-shaped bill. Widespread and common. Males have a green head and white breast.
– Gadwall – A common dabbling duck named for its gabbling call. Understated patterning of grey, black and white.
– Eurasian Wigeon – A common dabbling duck with a cream forehead and crown. Males have a rusty head with yellow stripes.
– Northern Pintail – An elegant duck with a long neck and pointed tail. Breeds in marshes and winters along the coast. Males have chocolate brown heads and a white stripe up their necks.
– Common Teal- A small dabbling duck with horizontal white stripes on its wings. Males have a rust-coloured head with a yellow patch near the tail.
Migrating and Wintering Ducks
In addition to its native breeding ducks, the Netherlands hosts significant populations of ducks that migrate through the country or spend the winter there. The productive wetlands provide ample food supplies for these visitors.
Key migrating and wintering duck species in the Netherlands include:
– Eurasian Wigeon – While some Eurasian Wigeons breed in the Netherlands, many more arrive in autumn from breeding grounds further north in Scandinavia and Russia. They overwinter in huge flocks before migrating north again in spring.
– Northern Pintail – As well as native breeding birds, the Netherlands receives an influx of migrating Northern Pintails in winter. They gather in internationally important numbers, particularly around the IJsselmeer.
– Northern Shoveler – Resident Shovelers are joined by migrating birds arriving from across northern and eastern Europe to spend the winter.
– Common Pochard – Pochards breeding in the Netherlands migrate south for winter, while many more arrive from Russia and northern Europe to take their place. Huge flocks congregate on lakes and coastal waters.
– Tufted Duck – Tufted Ducks migrate into the Netherlands for the winter in substantial numbers, joining the resident breeding birds.
– Greater Scaup – A diving duck that breeds in northern Europe and Siberia. Many migrate down to overwinter in the shallow coastal waters of the Netherlands.
– Common Goldeneye – Small numbers of this black and white diving duck with golden eyes migrate down to winter in the Netherlands.
– Smew – A beautiful small diving duck with white plumage and a black and white striped head. Winters in the Netherlands in internationally significant numbers.
– Red-breasted Merganser – Fish-eating diving ducks that breed in northern Europe and Russia, migrating down to winter along the Netherlands’ coast and inland waters.
– Common Scoter – Forms massive flocks numbering many tens of thousands offshore in the Wadden Sea and Delta area in winter.
Vagrant and Escaped Species in the Netherlands
In addition to regular migrating and wintering birds, the Netherlands sometimes plays host to rare or vagrant duck species that have strayed far from their normal range. Being located along major migration flyways and with abundant wetland habitats, the Netherlands is well-placed to attract these unusual visitors. Some ducks also escape from captivity and establish feral populations.
Rare duck species recorded in the Netherlands include:
– Ruddy Shelduck – A rare visitor from southeast Europe and Asia. Some also escape from captivity and breed in the wild.
– Mandarin Duck – Escaped captive birds sometimes spotted, originating from East Asia. The brightly coloured males are unmistakable.
– Wood Duck – Striking and unmistakable North American duck sometimes recorded as a vagrant in the Netherlands.
– Ring-necked Duck – A rare vagrant from North America. Males have a bold black and white pattern with a chestnut neck band.
– Canvasback – Another North American diving duck that rarely wanders across the Atlantic to the Netherlands.
– Redhead – Yet another North American duck recorded as a rare vagrant in the Netherlands. Males have a reddish-brown head and blue bill.
– Ferruginous Duck – A rare visitor from southern Europe, Asia and Africa. Males have a white body, brown back and bright rust-red head and neck.
– Baer’s Pochard – An endangered duck from Asia that has turned up a handful of times in the Netherlands as a vagrant.
– Rosybill – A pink-billed diving duck from South America that has been recorded in the Netherlands on extremely rare occasions.
Where to See Ducks in the Netherlands
Some top sites for viewing ducks in the Netherlands include:
Oostvaardersplassen
A wetland nature reserve near Almere that holds huge numbers of migrating and wintering ducks including Pochards, Wigeons, Shovelers, Teal and many more. The bird hides offer spectacular wildfowl watching. Mallards, Shovelers and other ducks also breed here.
Lauwersmeer National Park
A vast area of shallow lakes in the north created by a former estuary. Holds enormous flocks of wintering ducks and geese. Also supports breeding ducks like Shovelers.
Wadden Sea Islands
The chain of Frisian Islands along the northern coast provide an internationally vital habitat for ducks, especially in winter. Vast rafts of Common Scoters can be seen offshore.
IJsselmeer
This huge inland lake and former estuary is a magnet for migrating and wintering ducks, including divers, seaducks and dabbling ducks. Northern Pintails gather here in the tens of thousands.
Zwarte Meer
A large lake rich in nutrients that attracts diving ducks like Tufted Ducks, Pochards and Goldeneyes in winter. Also has breeding Mallards, Coots and other waterbirds.
Veerse Meer
A prime location in Zeeland for observing migrating and wintering diving ducks including Scaup, Goldeneye and Smew.
Grevelingenmeer
A saltwater lake in Zeeland that holds large flocks of seaducks in winter including Common Scoter, Greater Scaup and Red-breasted Merganser.
Oosterschelde Estuary
Extensive mudflats and salt marshes that provide vital feeding areas for Shelducks, Wigeons, Teal and other dabbling ducks.
Naardermeer
The oldest nature reserve in the Netherlands, attracting breeding ducks like Gadwall and Shoveler, as well as wintering Teal, Wigeon and diving ducks.
Botshol
A nature area near Amsterdam with breeding Tufted Ducks, Common Pochards and other species. Many ducks winter on the protected wetlands here.
Threats and Conservation
While the Netherlands remains a duck haven, some threats face its duck populations:
– Wetland loss and degradation due to drainage, development and pollution. This destroys duck habitat and breeding sites.
– Overfishing and marine pollution impacting food supplies for seaducks.
– Disturbance, especially on wintering and migration sites.
– Lead shot poisoning from hunting. Many countries are phasing out lead shot, but it remains an issue.
– Climate change altering habitat and food resources. Milder winters also change distribution patterns.
Key conservation actions in the Netherlands include:
– Protection of important wetlands from development as nature reserves, National Parks and Natura 2000 sites. Ongoing wetland restoration.
– Limits set on new coastal developments like wind farms to protect key sites for seaducks.
– Public education to respect wintering and breeding ducks and avoid disturbance. Access restrictions in some sensitive locations.
– Implementation and enforcement of non-toxic shot use for waterfowl hunting.
– Sustainable management of fishing levels, marine habitats and water quality.
– Monitoring of duck populations and research into climate change impacts on ducks. Adaptive conservation strategies.
Overall, the Netherlands provides a refuge for ducks in Europe through its productive wetlands. With ongoing conservation, the country should remain a vital stronghold for duck populations into the future. The fascinating diversity of ducks is one of the Netherland’s natural treasures.
Conclusion
The Netherlands is rich in duck diversity, being located at the crossroads of major flyways for migrating waterfowl and having extensive natural wetland habitats. Around 20 duck species have been recorded, including both native breeding ducks and migrating/wintering visitors. The most abundant and widespread duck is the Mallard, but diving ducks like Pochards and seaducks such as Scoters are also plentiful. Important sites for ducks include wetlands like the Oostvaardersplassen and Lauwersmeer, the Wadden Sea coast and large inland lakes. Conservation efforts are critical to protect duck populations amid threats like habitat loss and climate change. The Netherlands’ wetlands are a vital refuge for ducks in Europe.
