The ferruginous duck is a rare winter visitor and occasional breeder in the UK, dependent on high-quality wetland habitat with clear water and abundant aquatic vegetation.
Eutrophication of wetland habitats from agricultural run-off reduces water clarity and aquatic invertebrate communities that ferruginous ducks require. Disturbance at wintering sites from recreational activity displaces birds from limited suitable habitat. Conservation of key continental breeding wetlands benefits the small UK wintering population.