Important Bird Species on Heather Moorland

There are 46 species of birds that occur regularly on heather moorland for feeding and/or breeding in England and Wales. The following tables show the bird species found on moorland and also to what degree they rely on the heather moorland habitat. The coloured dots against each species represent the conservation value that has been assigned for that species and the criteria for each. An explanation of the criteria can be found by simply clicking on the coloured dots.

Summary

• There are a total of 280 regularly occurring birds in the UK, Channel Island and the Isle of Man. At least 46 (16%), of these bird species occur regularly on heather moorland to feed and/or breed.
• Ten of these species appear on the UK's Red List of bird species of greatest conservation concern. (There are a total of 36 species on this list).
• A further 21 species which occur regularly on heather moorland appear on the UK's Amber List of bird species of conservation concern. (There are a total of 110 species on this list).



• The RSPB has selected 15 bird species to provide focus for its work, which are integral to the RSPB corporate strategy. The Hen Harrier, Lapwing, Skylark and Black Grouse are all on this list.
• In addition, 11 of these birds are also important at a European level and are listed under Annex 1 of the European Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. (EC Directive 79/409/EEC).

Table 1 - Birds Virtually Confined to Heather Moorland

(Click on the coloured dots for explanation of conservation code)

	Annex 1	RED	AMBER
Red Grouse

Table 2 - Birds that Breed mainly on Heather Moorland

	Annex 1	RED	AMBER
Golden Plover
Merlin
Hen Harrier

Table 3 - Moorland Provides Major Breeding Habitat

	Annex 1	RED	AMBER
Greenshank
Curlew
Short-eared Owl
Meadow Pipit
Whinchat
Dunlin
Stonechat
Cuckoo
Teal
Black Grouse
Common Gull
Skylark
Ring Ouzel
Grey Partridge
Fieldfare
Wigeon
Nightjar
Whimbrel

Table 4 - Moorland Provides Locally Important Breeding Habitat

	Annex 1	RED	AMBER
Twite
Wren
Wheatear
Lapwing
Common Snipe
Redshank
Black Headed Gull
Oystercatcher
Whitethroat
Pochard
Pheasant
Mallard
Willow Warbler

Table 5 - Moorland Provides Important Feeding Habitat

	Annex 1	RED	AMBER
Golden Eagle
Peregrine
Raven
Buzzard
Kestrel
Red Kite
Common/hooded Crow
Dotterel
Reed Bunting
Osprey
Goshawk

  Annex 1: Species listed on Annex 1 of EC Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds, requiring the UK Government to take special measures, including the designation of Special Protection Areas, to ensure the survival and reproduction of these species throughout their area of distribution.
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   Red & Amber The UK's leading non-governmental bird conservation organisations, (RSPB, BirdLife International, The Game Conservancy Trust, British Trust for Ornithology, The Hawk and Owl Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and The National Trust), have agreed the priorities for bird conservation after reviewing the status of all bird species in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man - 1996. The bird species are divided into three sections or lists.
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  Red All species whose breeding population declined or range contracted by 50% or more, (rapid), over the preceding 25 years (i.e. 1980-1995), and those of global conservation concern. Also birds with a high historical decline from 1800-1995.
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  Amber All species whose breeding population declined or range contracted by 25 -49%, (moderate), over the preceding 25 years. Or birds with 0.2 - 300 annually breeding pairs taking an average over the previous five years. Or birds for which 50% their breeding or non-breeding population is found at 10 or fewer sites. Or breeding species of which 20% or more of the European population breeds in the UK. Or birds with an unfavourable conservation status in Europe. These birds may progress to rapid decline unless action is taken.
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  Green All other regularly occurring species in UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man are on the Green list. 134 out of a total bird assemblage of 280 species
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