Overwintering waterfowl

The Netherlands is important as an overwintering area for waterfowl.

Current situation

More than 1% of the northwestern European populations of many waterfowl species regularly overwinter in the Netherlands. And for about ten of these species, the proportion overwintering here is more than 20%. Of these species, five are geese or swans: white-fronted goose, barnacle goose, Bewick's swan, grey-lag goose and tundra bean goose.

For certain species, such as the knot and bar-tailed godwit, the saline water bodies (in the Wadden and Delta areas) are very important. But others, such as the gadwall, pochard and scaup converge on freshwater habitats (riviers and lakes). Large flocks of barnacle goose and Bewick's swan also occur away from bodies of saline or fresh water.