Waterfowl in Switzerland: Winter visitors in the firing line

Around half a million waterfowl overwinter on Swiss lakes and rivers every year. Switzerland has particular international importance as a wintering and resting place, which is why the Federal Council signed the Ramsar Convention for the protection of wetlands in 1974. At the same time, thousands of waterfowl are shot in Switzerland every year. In 2019, 4,731 ducks were killed, along with 142 great crested grebes (71 percent more than the previous year), 423 coots, and over 1,100 cormorants. According to the Federal Hunting Act (JSG, Art. 5), 15 species of wild ducks are legal to hunt. BirdLife Switzerland states: "Not only is hunting hares completely unnecessary from an ecological perspective, but so is hunting birds." The common pochard and the common eider are listed as "vulnerable" and "near threatened," respectively, on the IUCN Red List, yet they were still hunted in Switzerland. The Eurasian coot is classified as "endangered" across Europe. Switzerland welcomes winter visitors from half of Europe and shoots them.

Overview of huntable waterfowl

Mallard duck ( Anas platyrhynchos )

The mallard is the most common and well-known duck species in Switzerland. The drake is unmistakable in its breeding plumage: metallic green head, white neck ring, chestnut-brown breast, and gray body. The hen is brown-speckled with a blue wing patch. The mallard weighs between 850 and 1,400 grams and measures 50 to 65 centimeters in length. It inhabits virtually all types of water bodies, from mountain lakes and rivers to city parks. The mallard is both a breeding bird and a winter visitor in Switzerland. It breeds from March onwards, lays 7 to 13 eggs, and raises its ducklings alone. The mallard is by far the most heavily hunted duck species in Switzerland. In 2016, 4,842 mallards were killed, and in 2019, it was part of the 4,685 mallards, teal, and tufted ducks shot (Pro Natura, JSG briefly explained; BirdLife Switzerland, hunting statistics). In the canton of St. Gallen alone, a total of 441 mallards were shot in 2023 (Office for Nature, Hunting and Fishing SG, Hunting Statistics 2023).

Common Teal ( Anas crecca )

The teal is the smallest European duck species: only 34 to 38 centimeters long and weighing 250 to 400 grams. The drake has a chestnut-brown head with a broad, green eye stripe. The teal breeds in Switzerland in small numbers and is primarily present as a winter visitor and migrant. It prefers shallow, vegetation-rich waters. In 2016, 189 teal were killed in Switzerland (Pro Natura, JSG briefly explained). In the canton of St. Gallen, the number was still 15 in 2023 (Office for Nature SG, Hunting Statistics 2023). The teal is one of the three duck species that would have remained huntable even under the (failed) revised hunting law (Tages-Anzeiger, 2019).

Tufted Duck ( Aythya fuligula )

The tufted duck is a diving duck with striking black and white plumage in the drake and a characteristic crest of feathers on the back of its head. It weighs between 550 and 900 grams and is 40 to 47 centimeters long. In Switzerland, the tufted duck has only established itself as a breeding bird in recent decades and now numbers several hundred breeding pairs. It is significantly more common as a winter visitor. The tufted duck dives up to six meters deep to feed on mussels, snails, and insect larvae. In 2016, 124 tufted ducks were killed (Pro Natura, JSG briefly explained). The Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach describes the most species-rich breeding areas as "structurally rich wetlands on or near the larger lakes" and emphasizes that only the mallard is common and widespread among Swiss ducks, while all other duck species are rare breeding birds (Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach, Breeding Areas and Wintering Grounds of Waterfowl).

Common Pochard ( Aythya ferina )

The Common Pochard is a medium-sized diving duck with a rusty-brown head and a black breast in the drake. It has been classified as "vulnerable" (VU) on the IUCN Red List since 2015 and is also considered vulnerable across Europe (BirdLife Switzerland, Red List 2015; BirdLife Switzerland, European Red List). In Switzerland, it is a rare breeding bird but an important winter visitor. Tens of thousands of Common Pochards overwinter on Lake Constance, and the region hosts internationally significant portions of the flyway population in midwinter (Wildlife Portal BW, Common Pochard). In 2016, 98 Common Pochards were shot in Switzerland, and in 2018, the number was 60 (Pro Natura, JSG briefly explained; Tages-Anzeiger, 2019). BirdLife Switzerland criticizes: Of the 4,729 ducks shot in 2018, only 2.2 percent belonged to the species that the revised hunting law should have protected (BirdLife Switzerland, Hunting Statistics).

Other huntable waterfowl

In addition to ducks, the great crested grebe ( Podiceps cristatus ), the Eurasian coot ( Fulica atra ), and the cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carbo ) are also hunted in Switzerland. In 2019, 142 great crested grebes were killed, 71 percent more than in the previous year, yet their protection was not even discussed (BirdLife Switzerland, Hunting Statistics). The Eurasian coot is classified as "vulnerable" throughout Europe and is nevertheless hunted in Switzerland: 423 were killed in 2019 (BirdLife Switzerland, Hunting Statistics; BirdLife Switzerland, European Red List). The cormorant is shot as an alleged fish predator in the interest of commercial fishing: 1,116 cormorants were killed in 2016, while in the canton of St. Gallen, only 90 were killed in 2023 (Pro Natura, JSG briefly explained; Office for Nature SG, Hunting Statistics 2023).

Switzerland as a winter quarters: International responsibility

Half a million guests

The Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach documents: "Switzerland is home to around half a million waterbirds in winter" (Swiss Ornithological Institute, Waterbird Counts). Swiss lakes rarely freeze over and offer food year-round. This makes Switzerland one of the most important wintering grounds in Central Europe for duck species that breed in Scandinavia, Russia, and Eastern Europe. Tens of thousands of diving and dabbling ducks congregate on Lake Constance and Lake Geneva.

Ramsar Convention and protected areas

Switzerland signed the Ramsar Convention in 1974 and designated 10 waterbird and migratory bird reserves of international importance and 25 of national importance (FOEN, Waterbird and Migratory Bird Reserves). However, BirdLife Switzerland criticizes the fact that of the approximately 40 areas that should actually be protected, more than a third are still missing from the federal protection ordinance. Switzerland has not designated a new Ramsar site since 2005 and is "at the bottom of the list regarding protected areas in Europe" (BirdLife Switzerland, Wetlands, 2022). Particularly on Lake Constance and the Lower Lake, one of the most important waterbird habitats in Europe, Switzerland has not designated a single Ramsar site, while Germany and Austria have long since done so.

The contradiction

Switzerland is internationally committed to protecting waterfowl and their habitats, yet simultaneously shoots thousands of wintering birds every year. Birds seeking refuge on Swiss lakes are met there by recreational hunters. Hunting ducks, great crested grebes, and coots on their wintering waters undermines international conservation strategies and contradicts the spirit of the Ramsar Convention.

More on this topic: Dossier: Hunting and Biodiversity

Hunting: 15 species in the firing range

Legal situation

According to the Federal Hunting Act (JSG, Art. 5), a total of 15 wild duck species are huntable in Switzerland. These are in addition to the great crested grebe, coot, and cormorant. Closed seasons vary from canton to canton. In 2020, a revised hunting law was rejected by the Swiss electorate. The revised law would have reduced the number of huntable duck species to three (mallard, teal, and tufted duck), but BirdLife Switzerland criticized the fact that this would have allowed 98 percent of duck kills to continue to be permitted, with only 2.2 percent of kills being for newly protected species (BirdLife Switzerland, Hunting Statistics; Tages-Anzeiger, 2019).

The scale of the shootdown

The shooting figures from the Swiss Federal Hunting Statistics (2016, Pro Natura / JSG briefly explained) illustrate the scale of the problem: 4,842 mallards, 189 teal, 124 tufted ducks, 98 common pochards, 22 gadwalls, 2 common goldeneyes, 1 wigeon, 1 shoveler, and 2 garganeys. In addition, 114 great crested grebes, 390 coots, and 1,116 cormorants were killed. In 2019, the total number of ducks killed rose to 4,731, of which 4,685 were mallards, teal, and tufted ducks, and 108 other ducks (BirdLife Switzerland, Hunting Statistics). The trend was upward.

Endangered species in the line of fire

The scandal surrounding waterfowl hunting in Switzerland lies in the fact that species listed on Red Lists are also hunted. The common pochard has been classified as "vulnerable" (VU) on the global Red List since 2015. The common eider is globally classified as "near threatened" (NT). The Eurasian coot is classified as "vulnerable" across Europe (BirdLife Switzerland, European Red List). The fact that Switzerland hunts species considered internationally endangered while simultaneously having signed the Ramsar Convention is a contradiction that cannot be justified by any "reasonable cause" as defined by the Animal Welfare Act.

More on this topic: Animal welfare problem: Wild animals die agonizing deaths because of hobby hunters

Ecological significance: Waterfowl as ecosystem engineers

Nutrient cycle

Ducks and other waterfowl transport nutrients between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Their droppings fertilize shorelines and promote plant growth. Diving ducks such as the tufted duck and the common pochard contribute to regulating mussel and snail populations, thus influencing water quality.

Seed dispersal

Dabbling ducks like the mallard and the teal disperse plant seeds hundreds of kilometers via their digestive system (endozoochory) and in their plumage (epizoochory). This service is indispensable for connecting isolated wetlands and maintaining the genetic diversity of aquatic plants. Studies have shown that up to ten percent of plant seeds ingested by ducks survive digestion and remain viable.

food chain

Waterfowl are key prey for predators such as white-tailed eagles, peregrine falcons, goshawks, and foxes. The white-tailed eagle, which occasionally winters in Switzerland and may resettle there in the future, relies on waterfowl as its primary food source. The eagle owl also regularly hunts ducks and coots. Decimating waterfowl populations also decimates the food supply for these predators.

Indicator type

Waterfowl populations are a recognized indicator of the quality of aquatic ecosystems. Switzerland has been conducting waterfowl counts for decades (Sempach Bird Observatory, Waterfowl Counts). Declining populations indicate deteriorating water quality, reduced food availability, or increasing disturbances. It is paradoxical that the same species that serve as indicators of the health of our waters are simultaneously hunted.

What would need to change

Immediate removal of all endangered waterfowl species from the hunting list : The common pochard (globally VU), the common eider (globally NT), and the Eurasian coot (endangered across Europe) may no longer be hunted. Hunting species listed on international Red Lists is incompatible with the Ramsar Convention and animal welfare laws.
Reduction of huntable duck species to zero : Recreational hunting of waterfowl has no rational basis. Ducks cause no damage that would justify shooting them. The meat yield is marginal, while the disturbance to wintering birds is considerable. All duck species should be removed from the hunting catalog.
Expansion of waterbird and migratory bird reserves : Switzerland must include the missing 15 nationally important waterbird areas in the protection ordinance and designate cross-border Ramsar areas on Lake Constance and the Lower Lake.
Hunting-free zones on all wintering waters : The hunting of waterfowl on wintering waters must end. Winter visitors that come to Switzerland from all over Europe deserve protection, not shot.
Ban on lead shot for waterfowl hunting : Lead shot poisons waterways and kills waterfowl through lead poisoning when they mistake the pellets for food. Lead shot is banned for waterfowl hunting in many European countries. Switzerland must follow suit.

Argumentation

"The mallard is common and can be hunted sustainably." However, the fact that a species is common does not automatically make killing it sensible. Mallards do not cause damage that justifies shooting them. The meat yield of a mallard is minimal. The disturbance of waterways caused by duck hunting affects not only the mallard, but all waterfowl that overwinter on the same waters, including endangered species such as the common pochard. Every shot fired at a mallard drives dozens of other birds from their resting place.

"Waterfowl hunting has a long tradition in Switzerland." This tradition dates back to a time when ducks were an important food source. Today, duck hunting is a hobby that conflicts with animal welfare laws. In the 21st century, the "reasonable cause" for killing an animal cannot be the leisure activity of a few hobby hunters.

"Switzerland has established protected areas for waterfowl, but hunting takes place outside these areas." The protected areas are incomplete: More than a third of the nationally important waterfowl habitats are missing from the conservation ordinance (BirdLife Switzerland, 2022). Waterfowl do not adhere to the boundaries of reserves. They use various bodies of water and are mobile on their wintering grounds. Hunting outside the reserves disturbs the birds and drives them to less suitable, less energetically productive waters.

"Duck hunting has no impact on populations." If duck hunting has no impact on populations, then it serves no purpose. Shooting without effect and without necessity is senseless killing. Animal welfare law requires a justifiable reason for killing an animal, and "it has no impact" is not a justifiable reason.

"Cormorants eat too many fish and their population needs to be controlled." The cormorant is a natural part of Swiss aquatic life. Commercial fishing has suffered in recent decades due to various factors, including eutrophication, nutrient depletion from wastewater treatment plants, climate change, and invasive species. Making the cormorant a scapegoat distracts from the real causes. In Geneva, where hunting has been banned since 1974, cormorants and fish coexist without problems.

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Sources

Federal Hunting Statistics, FOEN/Wildlife Switzerland: http://www.jagdstatistik.ch
BirdLife Switzerland: The current hunting statistics and the revised hunting law (birdlife.ch, 2020)
BirdLife Switzerland (2015): Global Red List 2015, European Turtle Dove and Common Pochard newly listed as globally threatened (birdlife.ch)
BirdLife Switzerland: New Red List of European Birds highlights Switzerland's responsibility (birdlife.ch)
BirdLife Switzerland (2022): Switzerland lags far behind in the protection of wetlands and waterbird reserves (birdlife.ch)
Pro Natura (2018): The Swiss Federal Hunting and Conservation Act explained briefly (2016 shooting figures for all huntable species)
Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach: Waterbird counts, around half a million winter visitors (vogelwarte.ch)
Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach: Breeding grounds and wintering grounds of waterfowl (vogelwarte.ch)
Office for Nature, Hunting and Fishing, Canton of St. Gallen: Hunting Statistics 2023 (574 waterfowl, 441 mallards, 90 cormorants)
Tages-Anzeiger / Landbote (2019): In the sights of hunters (common pochard, 15 huntable duck species, referendum)
Swiss Farmer (2020): Hunting Law, Vote (only 3 huntable duck species planned)
FOEN: Waterbird and migratory bird reserves of international and national importance (bafu.admin.ch)
FOEN: Red Lists, Endangered Species of Switzerland (bafu.admin.ch)
BAFU / Swiss Ornithological Institute (2021): Red List of Breeding Birds of Switzerland
Ramsar Convention: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (SR 0.451.46)
Wildlife portal Baden-Württemberg: Common Pochard, Lake Constance is home to 7.7% of the flyway population
IUCN Red List: Pochard ( Aythya ferina ), status VU since 2015; Eider ( Somateria mollissima ), status NT
IG Wild beim Wild (2022/2025): Hunting Statistics 2022 (wildbeimwild.com)
Federal Act on Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds (JSG, SR 922.0)
Animal Welfare Act (TSchG, SR 455)
Ordinance on Waterbird and Migratory Bird Reserves (WZVV, SR 922.32)

Our claim

Switzerland is a wintering ground for half a million waterbirds. Ducks, divers, coots, and cormorants come from Scandinavia, Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Alps to our lakes because they find open water, food, and relative peace here. Switzerland has committed itself to protecting these habitats and their inhabitants through the Ramsar Convention. It has established waterbird and migratory bird reserves, funded waterbird counts, and positioned itself internationally as a responsible steward of wetlands. And then it shoots its guests.

Every year in Switzerland, thousands of ducks, hundreds of coots and great crested grebes, and over a thousand cormorants are killed. Among them are species listed as "vulnerable" on the global Red List. The common pochard, whose winter population on Lake Constance is internationally significant, is shot in Switzerland. The coot, classified as "vulnerable" across Europe, is shot in Switzerland. The great crested grebe, whose numbers increased by 71 percent in a single year, is shot without any discussion of its protection. This hunting is not wildlife management. There is no problem that is solved by shooting ducks on wintering lakes. There is no prevented damage. There is no "reasonable cause" as defined by the Animal Welfare Act. There is only small game hunting as a recreational activity for a small minority, carried out at the expense of biodiversity and Switzerland's international obligations.

The consequence is clear: all waterfowl must be removed from the hunting catalogue in Switzerland. Switzerland must take its responsibility as a wintering ground seriously, register the missing protected areas, and end duck hunting on wintering waters. This dossier will be continuously updated as new figures, studies, or political developments require.

More on the topic of hobby hunting: In our dossier on hunting, we compile fact checks, analyses and background reports.