The species can suffer from human disturbance, particularly in colonies near human habitation (e.g. BirdLife International 2015). As for other bee-eater species within the UAE, the greatest threats to the species within UAE are likely to be development on wilderness land, and the potential for reductions in insect populations (Aspinall 1996, Fry and Boesman 2014, BirdLife International 2015). The potential for declines in invertebrate populations as a result of agricultural intensification and future declines in water availability requires further research.

Aspinall (1996) lists a range of potential threats to this species in UAE. The species is potentially incidentally caught in fishing nets (Aspinall 1996). Threats to the species's environment are also important, with loss of its mangrove habitat due to disease, pollution and clearance (e.g. for land reclamation) being particularly threatening, as well as the species being impacted by other human activities, e.g. recreation leading to species disturbance and capture for trade (see Aspinall 1996).

Changes in land-use and the possibility of oil pollution could affect this species in UAE, but the severity of these threats towards this species is unknown.;Individuals that visit the UAE are also likely to impacted by threats operating outside of the country. Long term declines in its global range (outside of the UAE) are thought to be due to chemical and biological river pollution. The two main sources of this are most likely industrial waste disposal and agricultural chemical runoff. Canalization of streams and clearance of emergent vegetation to improve drainage result in loss of feeding habitat and nesting habitat (although the latter is not relevant to the population in UAE), and declines in fish numbers (Tucker and Heath 1994). It is also at risk locally from persecution to protect fish stocks (Woodall 2016).

The only known breeding site for this species within the UAE was in the process of being filled in with rubbish in 1996 (Aspinall 1996), and indeed the species potentially no longer breeds in the country (Pedersen et al. 2017). Land use changes could be a threat to this species, as could invasive species such as Mynas, which may be impacting the species by providing competition for nesting sites, while reductions in insect populations may mean a reduction in food availability. Individuals that are now reported in the country are non-breeding visitors, but they face threats from outside of the country that could have an impact on this visiting population.;Threats outside of the country include persecution on migration in some Mediterranean countries and hundreds, perhaps thousands, are shot for food in Oman every spring (del Hoyo et al. 2001).;The loss of suitable breeding habitat due to changing agricultural practices, conversion to monoculture, loss of nest sites, and agricultural intensification and the use of pesticides (reducing food availability) are considered to be the main threats to the species in Europe (E. Racinskis in litt. 2005,;Kovacs;et al.;2008), and the impact of these threats in the UAE requires research. The species is sensitive to loss of hedgerows and riparian forest in Europe, which provide essential habitats for perching and nesting.

This species has likely expanded thanks to the spread of suitable irrigated areas. These artificial habitats within the UAE may be transient, so monitoring of such habitats will be important.;Individuals that over-winter in country may face additional threats outside of the country, such as hunting (KriÅ¡tín;and Kirwan 2015).

Within the UAE the main threats to the species are likely from land-use changes and possibly oil pollution, but the severity of these threats are essentially unknown.Across its global range the species faces a large number of threats, outlined below; but it is highly uncertain to what extent such threats impact individuals that visit the UAE.The species is threatened by the degradation and destruction of well-vegetated shallow pools and other wetland habitats(Vinicombe 2000,;del Hoyo et al. 1992,;Kear 2005, Robinson and Hughes 2006)(e.g. changes to the vegetation community, disruption of water regimes, siltation, and increased water turbidity [Robinson and Hughes 2006]) as a result of excessive drainage and water abstraction(Vinicombe 2000,;Grishanov 2006, Robinson and Hughes 2006), peat extraction(Grishanov 2006), eutrophication (from inadequate sewage treatment and nutrient run-off [Robinson and Hughes 2006]), oil pollution(Grishanov 2006), dam and barrage construction, the building of infrastructure on flood-plains (Vinicombe 2000, Robinson and Hughes 2006) and river canalisation(Kear 2005). Changing land management practices such as reed cutting and burning during the breeding season (Petkov 2006), over-grazing (Robinson and Hughes 2006) decreased grazing and mowing of wet meadows(Grishanov 2006), and abandonment (causing succession to scrub) or intensification (causing reversion to open water) of extensively managed fishponds(Vinicombe 2000,;Kear 2005, Petkov 2006, Robinson and Hughes 2006) also threatens the species. The introduction of non-native species has caused further habitat degradation. For example the stocking of lakes with and accidental introduction of Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella has resulted in reductions in macrophyte biomass and corresponding reductions in invertebrate biomass(Kear 2005, Robinson and Hughes 2006), and in Bulgaria an introduced shrub (Desert False Indigo Amorpha fruticosa) is changing the ecological character of wetlands (Robinson and Hughes 2006). Introduced predators such as the Wels Catfish Silurus glanis (Kazakhstan) that predate ducklings, and the Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus (Aral Sea region) have also caused population declines (Robinson and Hughes 2006). Increased drought due to global climate change may pose a threat to the species in part of its range(Vinicombe 2000, Robinson and Hughes 2006). Disturbance by fishing boats and anglers alongside fringe vegetation could cause abandonment of the breeding sites or disrupt the timing of breeding (N. Petkov in litt. 2008). Hunting is another serious threat to the species(Vinicombe 2000,;del Hoyo et al. 1992, Robinson and Hughes 2006). Large numbers are shot on passage in the autumn (e.g. through the Volga delta) and on some wintering grounds^;(Kear 2005, Balmaki and Barati 2006). Other lower-level threats include lead poisoning (from ingestion of discarded lead shot), fires in areas of reed thickets, peat bogs and woods (Grishanov 2006), entanglement and drowning in fishing nets (Robinson and Hughes 2006<strong style="""">)<strong style=""""> and hybridisation with native species (e.g. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula and Common Pochard Aythya ferina in Switzerland [Leuzinger 2010]).

The most relevant threats within UAE are changes in coastal land-use and the possibility of oil pollution, but the severity of these threats towards this species is unknown.Globally, however, the species faces a very wide range of threats, which could impact upon individuals that visit UAE:It is thought that the primary factors that have led to the global decline in this species are most likely to be a combination of: (i) loss of breeding habitat in eastern Europe, and (ii) changes in water chemistry (especially from hyper-eutrophication caused by agricultural runoff). The loss of habitat is thought to primarily result from changes in land management; either the abandonment or intensification of management of lowland marshes and fish ponds (Fox et al. 2016). The abandonment of traditional lowland grazing marshes results in succession to scrub and other unsuitable habitats, whilst greater agricultural intensification leads to marshes being drained. Negative changes to fish pond management also arise from either a reduction in fish production or an intensification that leads to greater use of fish food and medication treatments, and an increase in nutrient inputs. (Fox et al. 2016).Increased predation levels may be partly related to declines in Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus colonies, with which Pochard often associate for the benefits of predator deterrence (Fox et al. 2016). Invasive carp may also provide competition for resources with this species (see Fox et al. 2016).The species may also be threatened by disturbance from hunting (del Hoyo;et al.;1992, Evans and Day 2002, Kear 2005), water-based recreation (Fox;et al.;1994, Kear 2005) and from machinery noise from urban development (Marsden 2000), as well as by habitat destruction (del Hoyo;et al.;1992) on its wintering grounds due to eutrophication (partially as a result of nutrient run-off from agricultural land) (Kear 2005, L. Raudonikis;in litt. 2015). Adults are poisoned by ingesting lead shot (Mateo et al. 1998) and drowned in freshwater fishing nets with mesh sizes greater than 5 cm (Quan et al. 2002). The species is also susceptible to avian influenza, so may be threatened by future outbreaks of the disease (Melville and Shortridge 2006). It is also hunted in numerous countries across its range (e.g. Mateo;et al. 1998, Evans and Day 2002, Balmaki and Barati 2006, Sorrenti;et al.;2006, H. Ibrahim in litt. 2016).

The most relevant threats within UAE are changes in coastal land-use and the possibility of oil pollution, but the severity of these threats towards this species is unknown.Individuals of this species that visit UAE are also threatened by a range of threats that operate outside of the country: for instance, the species is threatened by lowland habitat loss and degradation (e.g. through wetland drainage) (Musil 2006) and by upland habitat loss due to afforestation and other land-use changes (Kear 2005). The species suffers mortality as a result of lead shot ingestion (Mondain-Monval et al. 2002), and is intensively hunted in its some areas (del Hoyo et al. 1992; e.g. Iran [Balmaki and Barati 2006]). The species is threatened by disturbance from human recreational activities (Pease et al. 2005),;and construction work (Burton et al. 2002). The species is susceptible to avian botulism (Rocke 2006) and avian influenza (Melville and Shortridge 2006, Gaidet et al. 2007) so may be threatened by future outbreaks of these diseases.

The most relevant threats within UAE are changes in coastal land-use and the possibility of oil pollution, but the severity of these threats towards this species is unknown. Wetland habitat loss, petroleum pollution and reclamation of coastal areas for industrial development also pose a threat to this species in other parts of its range (Scott and Rose 1996, BirdLife International 2015).Additionally, individuals of this species that visit UAE are threatened by a range of other threats that operate outside of the country. For instance, the species is threatened by wetland drainage, peat-extraction, changing wetland management practices (decreased grazing and mowing in meadows leading to scrub over-growth) and the burning and mowing of reeds in Russia (Grishanov 2006). Over-exploitation is a concern in large parts of its global range (Baldassarre and Bolen 1994, Kear 2005, Balmaki and Barati 2006, Schmidt 2006).;Pintails are predated by feral cats Felis catus and rats Rattus norvegicus on islands (del Hoyo et al. 1992), and the species is susceptible to avian botulism (Rocke 2006) and avian influenza (Melville and Shortridge 2006, Gaidet et al. 2007) so may be threatened by future outbreaks of these diseases.

The most relevant threats within UAE are changes in coastal land-use and the possibility of oil pollution, but the severity of these threats towards this species is unknown.Individuals of this species that visit UAE are also threatened by a range of threats that operate outside of the country: For instance, the species is threatened by habitat loss from drainage and changing farmland practices (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997), and it is occasionally killed by collisions with power transmission lines (Malcolm 1982). It is susceptible to avian influenza (Melville and Shortridge 2006, Gaidet et al. 2007) and avian botulism (Forrester et al. 1980) so may be threatened by future outbreaks of these diseases. The species is frequently hunted in large proportion of its range (e.g. North America, Europe and Iran [Baldassarre and Bolen 1994, Balmaki and Barati 2006, BirdLife International 2015), but is rarely taken in large numbers (Kear 2005). The species suffers mortality as a result of lead shot ingestion (Camargue, Franceand Spain [Mateo et al. 1998, Mondain-Monval et al. 2002]).