White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) - BirdLife species factsheet

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White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala

IUCN Red List Criteria

Critically Endangered
Endangered	A2bcde+4bcde
Vulnerable	A2bcde+3bcde+4bcde;C1

IUCN Red List history

Year	Category
2012	Endangered
2008	Endangered
2006	Endangered
2004	Endangered
2000	Endangered
1996	Vulnerable
1994	Vulnerable
1988	Threatened

Species attributes

Migratory status	full migrant	Forest dependency	Does not normally occur in forest
Land mass type	continent	Average mass	-

Distribution

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km²)	215,000	medium
Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km²)	215,000	medium
Number of locations	11-100	-
Fragmentation		-

Population & trend

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
No. of mature individuals	5300-8700	good	Estimated	2002
Population trend	Decreasing	medium		-
Number of subpopulations	2-100	-	-	-
Largest subpopulation	1001-11659	-	-	-
Generation length (yrs)	6	-	-	-
Population justification: The population is estimated to number 2,500 individuals in Spain and Morocco (J. A. Torres Esquivias and A. Green in litt. 2002); 400-600 individuals in Algeria and Tunisia (H. Azafzaf and P. Isenmann in litt. 2002); 5,000-10,000 individuals in the east Mediterranean and south-west Asia, and 10 individuals in south Asia. This totals 7,900-13,100 individuals, roughly equating to 5,300-8,700 mature individuals.
Trend justification: Despite uncertainty about the possible 'redistribution' of birds in the Middle East, Azerbaijan, etc., the latest total winter figures from Turkey (for 2002 and 2005) suggest that the 'fluctuation' recorded during 1990-2000 has now become a real decline. Thus a very rapid decline is estimated for the last ten years, which is expected to slow to a rapid decline over the next ten years.

Country/Territory distribution

Country/Territory	Occurrence status	Extinct	Breeding	Non-breeding	Passage
Afghanistan	Native	No
Albania	Vagrant	No		Yes
Algeria	Native	No	Yes
Armenia	Native	No	Yes
Austria	Vagrant	No
Azerbaijan	Native	No		Yes	Yes
Belgium	Vagrant	No
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Vagrant	No
Bulgaria	Native	No		Yes	Yes
China (mainland)	Native	No
Croatia	Unknown	No
Cyprus	Native	No		Yes
Denmark	Vagrant	No
Egypt	Vagrant	No		Yes
France	Vagrant	No		Yes
Georgia	Native	No
Germany	Vagrant	No
Greece	Native	No		Yes
Hungary	Native	Yes	Yes
India	Native	No		Yes
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Native	No			Yes
Iraq	Native	No		Yes
Israel	Native	No		Yes
Italy	Vagrant	No		Yes
Jordan	Native	No		Yes	Yes
Kazakhstan	Native	No	Yes		Yes
Kyrgyzstan	Native	No		Yes	Yes
Libya	Vagrant	No
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of	Unknown	No		Yes
Malta	Vagrant	No
Mongolia	Native	No	Yes
Montenegro	Unknown	No
Morocco	Native	No
Netherlands	Vagrant	No
Pakistan	Native	No		Yes
Palestinian Authority Territories	Unknown	No		Yes	Yes
Poland	Vagrant	No
Portugal	Vagrant	No
Romania	Native	No
Russia (Asian)	Native	No	Yes
Russia (Central Asian)	Native	No	Yes
Russia (European)	Native	No	Yes
Saudi Arabia	Vagrant	No		Yes
Serbia	Unknown	No
Slovakia	Vagrant	No
Slovenia	Vagrant	No
Spain	Native	No
Switzerland	Vagrant	No
Syria	Native	No
Tajikistan	Native	No			Yes
Tunisia	Native	No
Turkey	Native	No			Yes
Turkmenistan	Native	No
Ukraine	Native	No		Yes
Uzbekistan	Native	No	Yes		Yes

Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria

Country/Territory	IBA Name	IBA link
Afghanistan	Hamun-i-Puzak
Afghanistan	Kole Hashmat Khan
Albania	Narta Lagoon
Algeria	Complexe de zones humides de la plaine de Guerbes-Sanhadja
Algeria	Lac des Oiseaux / Garaet et Touyour
Algeria	Lac Oubeïra
Algeria	Lac Tonga
Algeria	Marais de Mekhada
Armenia	Armash fish-farm
Azerbaijan	Divichi liman (or Lake Akzibir)
Azerbaijan	Red Lake
Bulgaria	Burgasko Lake
Bulgaria	Durankulak Lake
Bulgaria	Mandra-Poda complex
China (mainland)	Desert and wetland from Northern Urumqi to Dabancheng
China (mainland)	Ebi Nur and Kuytun River
China (mainland)	Oasis, Desert and Wetland at Mosuowan
China (mainland)	Sayram Nur
China (mainland)	Tacheng (Qoqek) area
China (mainland)	Xekar Reservoir
Greece	Lake Kerkini
Greece	Porto Lagos, Lake Vistonis, and coastal lagoons (Lakes of Thrace)
India	Harike Lake Bird Sanctuary
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Akh Gol
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Anzali Mordab complex
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Arjan Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Gori Gol
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Harm lake
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Hilleh Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Lake Alagol, Lake Ulmagol and Lake Ajigol
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Lake Kobi
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Lake Zaribar
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Lapoo - Zargmarz ab-bandans
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Seyed Mohalli, Zarin Kola and Larim Sara
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Shur Gol, Yadegarlu and Dorgeh Sangi lakes
Iran, Islamic Republic of	South end of the Hamoun-i Puzak
Iraq	Haur Al Hammar
Israel	Jezre'el, Harod and Bet She'an valleys
Israel	Judean foothills
Israel	Zevulun valley
Kazakhstan	Isei Lake
Kazakhstan	Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve
Kazakhstan	Kumdykol-Zharlykol Lake System
Kazakhstan	Kushum Lakes
Kazakhstan	Uyalyshalkar Lake System
Kazakhstan	Zharkol Lakes
Kazakhstan	Zhumay-Mayshukyr Lake System
Mongolia	Airag Lake
Mongolia	Khar Lake
Mongolia	Khar Us Lake
Mongolia	Ulaagchinii Khar Lake
Mongolia	Uvs Lake
Mongolia	Uvsiin Khar Lake
Pakistan	Ucchali Wetland Complex
Romania	Danube Delta
Romania	Lake Taşaul
Romania	Lake Techirghiol
Romania	Limanu - Herghelia
Russia (Asian)	Oruku-Shina
Russia (Asian)	Ulukhkol' lake
Russia (Central Asian)	Baganskiye Lakes
Russia (Central Asian)	Bykovo lake
Russia (Central Asian)	Holes of the Karasul River Downstream
Russia (Central Asian)	Kocherdyksky goose zakaznik
Russia (Central Asian)	Kurlady Lake
Russia (Central Asian)	Kurumbel'skaya steppe
Russia (Central Asian)	Lake system near Lotoshnoye village
Russia (Central Asian)	Makushinsky Zakaznik
Russia (Central Asian)	Saltosarayskoye lake
Russia (Central Asian)	System of lakes Kurlady-Selezjan-Atkul
Russia (Central Asian)	Tulak lake
Russia (Central Asian)	Uzkaya Steppe
Russia (Central Asian)	Wetlands of Karasuk
Russia (European)	Adzhi Lake
Russia (European)	Dadynskiye lakes
Russia (European)	Kurnikov liman
Russia (European)	Lake Manych-Gudilo
Russia (European)	Sarpinskaya lake-system
Spain	Albufera de Mallorca and Albufereta de Pollença marshes
Spain	Alcázar de San Juan-Quero endorreic lagoons
Spain	Conde, Chinche and Honda lakes
Spain	El Hondo wetland
Spain	Fuente de Piedra, Gosque and Campillos lakes
Spain	Lagunas de El Puerto de Santa María
Spain	Lebrija, Las Cabezas and Espera lagoons
Spain	Los Tollos lake
Spain	Medina and Puerto Real lagoons
Spain	Pedro Muñoz-Manjavacas endorreic lagoons
Spain	Tablas de Daimiel marshes; 'Vicario' and 'Gasset' reservoirs and Malagón lakes
Spain	Tembleque-La Guardia plains
Spain	Wetlands at south Córdoba
Spain	Wetlands of western Almería
Syria	Bahrat Homs
Syria	Tual al-'Abba
Tunisia	El Houareb reservoir
Tunisia	Ichkeul
Tunisia	Lebna reservoir
Tunisia	Masri reservoir
Tunisia	Mlaâbi reservoir
Tunisia	Mornaguia reservoir
Tunisia	Sebkhet Kelbia
Tunisia	Sebkhet Sidi Mansour
Tunisia	Sidi Abdelmonem reservoir
Turkey	Çöl Lake and Çalıkdüzü
Turkey	Çimenova Lakes
Turkey	Çorak Lake
Turkey	Bendimahi Delta
Turkey	Burdur Lake
Turkey	Ceyhan Delta
Turkey	Dönemeç Delta
Turkey	Edremit Reedbeds
Turkey	Erçek Lake
Turkey	Ereğli Plain
Turkey	Eşmekaya Marshes
Turkey	Hafik Zara Hills
Turkey	Hirfanlı Reservoir
Turkey	Hotamış Marshes
Turkey	Karakuyu Marshes
Turkey	Karamık Marshes
Turkey	Karataş Lake
Turkey	Kars Plain
Turkey	Kavuştuk Peninsula
Turkey	Kozanlı Gökgöl
Turkey	Kulu Lake
Turkey	Kuyucuk Lake
Turkey	Kuş Lake / Manyas Lake
Turkey	Kızılırmak Delta
Turkey	Mogan lake
Turkey	Salda Lake
Turkey	Seyhan Delta
Turkey	Sinop Peninsula
Turkey	Sodalıgöl (Arın Lake)
Turkey	South Shore of Lake Van
Turkey	Sultan Marsh
Turkey	Ulaş Lakes
Turkey	Uyuz Lake
Turkey	Van Plains
Turkey	Yarışlı Lake
Turkey	Yedikır Reservoir
Turkey	Ziyaret Mountain
Turkmenistan	Ayrakly – Garadzhaovlak
Turkmenistan	Delili - Garajabatyr
Turkmenistan	Ekerem - Esenguly
Turkmenistan	Jarsay - Khangui
Turkmenistan	Ketteshor - Ramankol
Turkmenistan	South Cheleken Bay
Turkmenistan	Turkmenbashy Bay
Turkmenistan	Zeyit - Kelif
Uzbekistan	Akpetky lakes and surrounding Aralkum Desert
Uzbekistan	Aksay Lake and surrounding desert
Uzbekistan	Ayakaghytma lake and surrounding desert
Uzbekistan	Dengizkul Lake
Uzbekistan	Dzheiran Ecocentre
Uzbekistan	Kagan Fish Farm
Uzbekistan	Karakyr Lakes
Uzbekistan	Northern shore of Aydarkul Lake
Uzbekistan	Sarykamysh lake and surrounding Ustyurt Plateau
Uzbekistan	Sudochye Lake
Uzbekistan	Tudakul and Kuymazar Reservoirs
Uzbekistan	Zekry Lake
Uzbekistan	Zholdyrbas Lake

Habitats & altitude

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Salt Exploitation Sites	suitable	breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Water Storage Areas (over 8ha)	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes	unset	non-breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)	major	non-breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)	major	breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha)	suitable	non-breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha)	suitable	breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes	major	breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools	major	breeding
Altitude	0 - 0 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Threats & impact

Threat (level 1)

Threat (level 2)

Impact and Stresses

Agriculture & Aquaculture

Annual & perennial non-timber crops / Agro-industry farming

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Majority (50-90%)

Very Rapid Declines

High Impact: 8

Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Biological resource use

Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources / Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale)

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Minority (<50%)

Slow, Significant Decline

Low Impact: 5

Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion, Species mortality

Biological resource use

Gathering terrestrial plants / Unintentional effects (species is not the target)

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Minority (<50%)

Negligible declines

Low Impact: 4

Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Biological resource use

Gathering terrestrial plants / Unintentional effects (species is not the target)

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Minority (<50%)

Slow, Significant Decline

Low Impact: 5

Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion, Species mortality

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals / Intentional use (species is the target)

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Majority (50-90%)

Slow, Significant Decline

Medium Impact:

Stresses
Species mortality

Natural system modifications

Dams & water management/use / Abstraction of ground water (unknown use)

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Minority (<50%)

Slow, Significant Decline

Low Impact: 5

Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases

Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Minority (<50%)

Rapid Declines

Medium Impact:

Stresses
Hybridisation, Competition

Pollution

Industrial & military effluents / Type Unknown/Unrecorded

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Minority (<50%)

Slow, Significant Decline

Low Impact: 5

Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion, Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality

Pollution

Agricultural & forestry effluents / Type Unknown/Unrecorded

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Majority (50-90%)

Rapid Declines

Medium Impact:

Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Climate change & severe weather

Droughts

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Minority (<50%)

Slow, Significant Decline

Low Impact: 5

Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion, Reduced reproductive success

Utilisation

Purpose	Primary form used	Life stage used	Source	Scale	Level	Timing
Pets	Whole	Adults and juveniles	Wild	International	Trivial	Recent
Food (human)	Whole	Adults and juveniles	Wild	Subsistence, National	Non-trivial	Recent
Sport	Whole	Adults and juveniles	Wild	Subsistence, National	Non-trivial	Recent

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Oxyura leucocephala. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013.

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category	Endangered
Family	Anatidae (Ducks, geese and swans)
Species name author	(Scopoli, 1769)
Population size	5300-8700 mature individuals
Population trend	Decreasing
Distribution size (breeding/resident)	215,000 km²
Country endemic?	No
Links to further information
- Summary information on this species