Soaring declines: Cornwall's woodland birds face extinction

Something serious is happening in our woods. Discover some of the most threatened species and how you can help woodland birds to thrive in Cornwall once again.

Can you imagine a woodland walk without any birdsong?

Woodland birds are a key part of Cornwall’s wildlife, providing many benefits to wider ecosystems. Their presence also has great positive effects on our wellbeing, allowing us to connect with nature and de-stress. Listening to birdsong has even been shown to provide recovery from mental fatigue. However, with increasing human development, the sounds of nature are falling silent…

Recent years have seen significant woodland bird declines across the UK. Prof Richard Gregory, head of monitoring at the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, said that “all the bird trends are dipping downwards, most prominently among woodland birds”. Their indicator of abundance has fallen by 37% since 1970, and by 15% in the past five years (2018-2023), which suggests an accelerating decline. Bird populations have long been considered an effective indicator for the wider state of wildlife; this makes these declines particularly concerning and suggests similar trends across many other organisms.

These declines are largely due to a lack of woodland habitat. The destruction of woodland for logging, development and agriculture means that many birds are now unable to nest and forage for food. Temperate rainforests would have once covered large areas of Cornwall, hosting amazing biodiversity and a unique range of species. However, woodland cover in Cornwall is now way below the national average at less than 10%.

The loss of these vital habitats is having a particularly negative effect on the most threatened woodland bird species. Here are just some of the species that need our help:

Fieldfare

Fieldfares are migratory birds which pay a special visit to the UK during the winter months, before flying back to Scandinavia to breed in Spring. Spending the winter in flocks of anything from 10 to several hundred, fieldfares are social birds and can be distinguished by their loud ‘chack-chack’ calls. These flocks, which roam the UK countryside, have been an important part of our winter landscape for generations. Sadly, like many woodland birds, the fieldfare is in decline and has been included in the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List since 2009. This is largely due to habitat loss. Our native trees, such as hawthorn, holly, juniper and yew, provide fruit and berries which are a vital food source for these migrants. As dusk sets in, fieldfares also rely on these trees as secure roosting sites. Learn more.

Tawny owl

Tawny owls are our largest common owl, found mostly in broad-leaved woodland areas. They are well known for their territorial ‘too-wit too-woo’ hooting call, which is actually a communication between the male and female. Tawnies often mate for life and females will lay their eggs in empty tree cavities during springtime. Their wing feathers have a soft furry edge that allows them to silently swoop down on unsuspecting prey, making them highly efficient hunters. They also have very sensitive sight and hearing which allows them to locate rodents, their main food source. The UK population was estimated to have fallen by more than a third since the 1970s and the tawny owl is now amber-listed as a species of conservation concern. Providing a network of suitable woodland habitats will be an important solution for their population recovery. Learn more.

Woodcock

The woodcock is a bulky wading bird with an intricate camouflage which allows it to blend into the woodland floor, where it spends the day tucked safely in dense undergrowth or foraging for insects. Most of the birds in the UK are residents but, in the autumn, migrants also move from Finland and Russia to winter in the UK. Due to their nocturnal lifestyle, woodcocks are elusive and difficult to spot. However, if disturbed you may catch sight of one taking off in a distinctive zig-zag flight. Often confused with the similar-looking snipe, the woodcock is larger and found in woodland rather than grassland and moorland habitats. The woodcock is also classified as Red (highly threatened) under the UK Red List for Birds of Conservation Concern. It is threatened by habitat fragmentation and is shockingly still shot for sport. Learn more.

Marsh tit

Despite its name, the marsh tit relies on woodland habitats for survival. It is so similar in appearance to the willow tit that ornithologists didn’t realise they were separate species until 1897! However, it can be distinguished by its glossy black cap and ‘pitchoo’ call which sounds a bit like a sneeze. Marsh tits feed mostly on insects, seeds and berries and nest in existing tree holes. They have an excellent memory and often bury and hide food for when supplies are low. Over winter, individuals can hide tens of thousands of seeds! Marsh tits are in significant decline, with the UK breeding population having declined by 80% in the last 55 years; they have also been red listed since 2022. This is partly due to to climate related insect declines. These negative climate effects are also being exacerbated by human-driven habitat destruction. Learn more.

Firecrest

The tiny firecrest is closely related to the similarly patterned goldcrest, for which it vies for the title of the UK’s smallest bird. Their striking facial markings set them apart from goldcrests, with black and white head stripes and bright crowning crests. Firecrests are found in coniferous forests throughout much of southern England. They also have a particular preference for woodland adjacent to rivers. In autumn and winter, numbers increase as migrants arrive across the North Sea. Firecrests dart quickly through trees and bushes in search of tiny morsels like spiders, moth eggs and small insects, making them extremely difficult to spot! Firecrests are far rarer than their goldcrest cousins and, like many woodland birds, are vulnerable to woodland habitat loss. Learn more.

Habitat restoration work is key to the survival of these iconic species

Cornwall Wildlife Trust is starting a 50-year project to restore an ancient temperate rainforest at West Muchlarnick Farm, near Looe. The aim is to connect-up land around this reserve, planting native trees and protecting native species to bring back this lost ecosystem. Our reserves team are also working to manage existing woodland reserves, such as Cabilla and Redrice Woods and Devichoys Wood. With your support we can create and maintain habitats for woodland birds, allowing them to thrive in Cornwall for generations to come.

If you would like to bring woodland birds back to Cornwall, please donate to our Temperate Rainforest Appeal this Christmas.

We would also love to see your woodland bird sightings – why not take a #WalkInTheWoods and share your photos with us on social media?