Swiss waters are home to large numbers of wintering Black-headed Gulls. As a breeding bird, the species is dependent on support measures in this country.

In the Red List of Swiss breeding birds, the Ortolan Bunting is classified as critically endangered.

A significant part of the European population of the Common Pochard spends the winter on Swiss lakes.

As an Alpine country, Switzerland has a significant responsibility for mountain species such as the Rock Ptarmigan.

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Swiss waters are home to large numbers of wintering Black-headed Gulls. As a breeding bird, the species is dependent on support measures in this country.

In the Red List of Swiss breeding birds, the Ortolan Bunting is classified as critically endangered.

A significant part of the European population of the Common Pochard spends the winter on Swiss lakes.

As an Alpine country, Switzerland has a significant responsibility for mountain species such as the Rock Ptarmigan.

Projects

Status assessment

The Swiss Ornithological Institute assesses the status of the avifauna in both national and international contexts

How are bird populations faring in Switzerland and internationally? To answer this question, it is essential to interpret the results from various monitoring projects. Periodic status assessments provide a crucial foundation for nature conservation efforts at both national and international levels. These assessments help identify species that require targeted conservation measures and allow for monitoring the effectiveness of such actions. Another key focus is to identify areas that are particularly important for birds.

Domain Research

Unit Status of bird species

Topics Population Development

Habitat farmland, rocky terrain, wetlands, rivers & streams, semi-open farmland, alpine habitats, wasteland, settlements, forest, meadows and pastures

Project start 2000

Project status ongoing

Project management Nicolas Strebel

Project region Switzerland, Europe

Details

Project objectives

The Swiss Ornithological Institute determines the endangerment status (Red List) and Switzerland’s international responsibility for species that breed and rest in this country. Based on this, an assessment is made of which species are to be assigned high priority in Switzerland in terms of protection and promotion. Another task is to identify areas that are of particular importance to breeding or resting birds. In this way, the Swiss Ornithological Institute provides fundamental information for the public, authorities and conservation organisations.

Methodology

The assessments are made according to criteria which are defined internationally (e.g. Red List according to IUCN specifications) or nationally. The results are presented in specialist publications and made available to the wider public through various channels. Periodic repetition of the assessments ensures that they are up to date.

Significance

The principles developed serve as instruments for prioritising support measures and protecting habitats.

Results

The Red Lists of endangered species have been compiled in Switzerland since 2000 according to internationally defined criteria and published by the Federal Office for the Environment. The Red List of breeding birds, as revised in 2021, is available in the form of a report (in German) or a table. 40% of breeding bird species in Switzerland are endangered, while another 20% are potentially endangered.

Species for which Switzerland has international responsibility are important for nature conservation. These particularly include Alpine species and wintering waterbirds. The list of national priority species is available for download here.