bird statistics

Redstart

Wild bird population numbers and trends are updated annually. Our UK birds have been split into three different categories of conservation importance.

UK Conservation Status explained

Birds placed on the red list are species which:

  • Have declined by more than 50% in the last 25 years, or longer.
  • Are globally threatened or are not recovering from historical decline.
  • Have had their breeding range in the UK reduced drastically by at least 50% in the last 25 years or longer.

Species of birds on the amber list:

  • Have moderately declined by 25 – 50% in the last 25 years or longer.
  • Are recovering / recovered from historical decline.
  • Are a rare breeder in the UK or of either European or International importance.

Birds on the green list are not considered to be of conservation concern

This list details the conservation status of UK songbirds (passerines) along with the trend and percentage changes in breeding population numbers.

Songbird
Species

Alert
Type

Change in Population %

Population
Estimate

Wood Warbler

RED

-44%

6500

Tree Pipit

RED

-40%

105000

Greenfinch

RED

-39%

760000

Spotted Flycatcher

RED

-39%

38500

House Martin

RED

-28%

470000

Willow Tit

RED

-28%

2750

Lesser Redpoll

RED

-16%

220000

Whinchat

RED

-12%

49500

Marsh Tit

RED

-11%

28500

Tree Sparrow

RED

-11%

225000

Yellowhammer

RED

-11%

685000

Mistle Thrush

RED

-7%

150000

Linnet

RED

-3%

530000

Starling

RED

-2%

1650000

Nightingale

RED

1%

5550

House Sparrow

RED

6%

5150000

Skylark

RED

6%

1500000

Yellow Wagtail

RED

11%

19500

Grasshopper Warbler

RED

19%

9750

Corn Bunting

RED

26%

11000

Pied Flycatcher

AMBER

-30%

495000

Redstart

AMBER

-26%

135000

Dipper

AMBER

-22%

12675

Wheatear

AMBER

-14%

165000

Meadow Pipit

AMBER

-11%

2250000

Sedge Warbler

AMBER

-11%

220000

Willow Warbler

AMBER

-10%

2050000

Wren

AMBER

-8%

9750000

Bullfinch

AMBER

-7%

225000

Dunnock

AMBER

-7%

2350000

Whitethroat

AMBER

-7%

1100000

Grey Wagtail

AMBER

-3%

33500

Reed Bunting

AMBER

-3%

255000

Rook

AMBER

2%

885000

Song Thrush

AMBER

3%

1200000

Swallow

GREEN

-39%

625000

Chaffinch

GREEN

-25%

4800000

Crossbill

GREEN

-16%

25000

Goldcrest

GREEN

-16%

375000

Siskin

GREEN

-12%

430000

Treecreeper

GREEN

-10%

210000

Garden Warbler

GREEN

-8%

145000

Long Tailed Tit

GREEN

-5%

370000

Blackbird

GREEN

-3%

4850000

Great Tit

GREEN

-3%

2200000

Robin

GREEN

-3%

6650000

Carrion Crow

GREEN

-2%

1050000

Sand Martin

GREEN

-2%

137250

Magpie

GREEN

-1%

555000

Blue Tit

GREEN

0%

3250000

Chiffchaff

GREEN

2%

1650000

Coal Tit

GREEN

2%

590000

Lesser Whitethroat

GREEN

3%

79000

Jay

GREEN

4%

165000

Jackdaw

GREEN

8%

1450000

Hooded Crow

GREEN

9%

185000

Reed Warbler

GREEN

10%

130000

Nuthatch

GREEN

11%

250000

Raven

GREEN

11%

9500

Goldfinch

GREEN

12%

1600000

Blackcap

GREEN

21%

1600000

Stonechat

GREEN

46%

61000

Cetti's Warbler

GREEN

96%

3450

Species

Alert Type

Change in Population %

Population Estimate

Greenfinch

RED

-61%

760000

Tree Pipit

RED

-42%

105000

House Martin

RED

-39%

470000

Wood Warbler

RED

-39%

6500

Willow Tit

RED

-33%

2750

Marsh Tit

RED

-29%

28500

Spotted Flycatcher

RED

-26%

38500

Lesser Redpoll

RED

-15%

220000

Starling

RED

-14%

1650000

Yellowhammer

RED

-13%

685000

Mistle Thrush

RED

-6%

150000

Tree Sparrow

RED

-5%

225000

Whinchat

RED

-2%

49500

House Sparrow

RED

1%

5150000

Nightingale

RED

2%

5550

Skylark

RED

5%

1500000

Linnet

RED

6%

530000

Grasshopper Warbler

RED

27%

9750

Yellow Wagtail

RED

29%

19500

Corn Bunting

RED

36%

11000

Wheatear

AMBER

-35%

165000

Sedge Warbler

AMBER

-30%

220000

Willow Warbler

AMBER

-25%

2050000

Pied Flycatcher

AMBER

-19%

495000

Redstart

AMBER

-15%

135000

Whitethroat

AMBER

-11%

1100000

Meadow Pipit

AMBER

-8%

2250000

Dunnock

AMBER

-7%

2350000

Dipper

AMBER

-6%

12675

Rook

AMBER

-5%

885000

Bullfinch

AMBER

1%

225000

Grey Wagtail

AMBER

3%

33500

Reed Bunting

AMBER

5%

255000

Song Thrush

AMBER

12%

1200000

Wren

AMBER

21%

9750000

Crossbill

GREEN

-52%

25000

Swallow

GREEN

-49%

625000

Chaffinch

GREEN

-34%

4800000

Garden Warbler

GREEN

-22%

145000

Siskin

GREEN

-16%

430000

Long Tailed Tit

GREEN

-13%

370000

Coal Tit

GREEN

-11%

590000

Great Tit

GREEN

-10%

2200000

Blue Tit

GREEN

-5%

3250000

Blackbird

GREEN

-3%

4850000

Sand Martin

GREEN

-2%

137250

Reed Warbler

GREEN

-1%

130000

Treecreeper

GREEN

-1%

210000

Magpie

GREEN

0%

555000

Carrion Crow

GREEN

1%

1050000

Lesser Whitethroat

GREEN

4%

79000

Goldcrest

GREEN

5%

375000

Jay

GREEN

7%

165000

Robin

GREEN

8%

6650000

Jackdaw

GREEN

16%

1450000

Hooded Crow

GREEN

16%

185000

Nuthatch

GREEN

19%

250000

Raven

GREEN

20%

9500

Chiffchaff

GREEN

22%

1650000

Goldfinch

GREEN

33%

1600000

Blackcap

GREEN

47%

1600000

Stonechat

GREEN

56%

61000

Cetti's Warbler

GREEN

187%

3450

Species

Alert Type

Change in Population %

Population Estimate

Willow Tit

RED

-85%

2750

Wood Warbler

RED

-76%

6500

Tree Pipit

RED

-70%

105000

Greenfinch

RED

-67%

760000

Starling

RED

-63%

1650000

Spotted Flycatcher

RED

-61%

38500

Whinchat

RED

-57%

49500

House Martin

RED

-51%

470000

Marsh Tit

RED

-49%

28500

Nightingale

RED

-47%

5550

Mistle Thrush

RED

-32%

150000

Yellow Wagtail

RED

-32%

19500

Yellowhammer

RED

-27%

685000

Lesser Redpoll

RED

-22%

220000

Linnet

RED

-22%

530000

Skylark

RED

-18%

1500000

Corn Bunting

RED

-17%

11000

House Sparrow

RED

-12%

5150000

Grasshopper Warbler

RED

1%

9750

Tree Sparrow

RED

60%

225000

Pied Flycatcher

AMBER

-54%

495000

Willow Warbler

AMBER

-46%

2050000

Dipper

AMBER

-39%

12675

Wheatear

AMBER

-32%

165000

Meadow Pipit

AMBER

-23%

2250000

Rook

AMBER

-20%

885000

Sedge Warbler

AMBER

-18%

220000

Grey Wagtail

AMBER

-7%

33500

Redstart

AMBER

-1%

135000

Bullfinch

AMBER

4%

225000

Dunnock

AMBER

14%

2350000

Wren

AMBER

21%

9750000

Whitethroat

AMBER

22%

1100000

Reed Bunting

AMBER

27%

255000

Song Thrush

AMBER

27%

1200000

Pied / White Wagtail

GREEN

-45%

23500

Swallow

GREEN

-28%

625000

Garden Warbler

GREEN

-28%

145000

Chaffinch

GREEN

-26%

4800000

Crossbill

GREEN

-19%

25000

Magpie

GREEN

-4%

555000

Treecreeper

GREEN

-3%

210000

Blue Tit

GREEN

1%

3250000

Coal Tit

GREEN

3%

590000

Long Tailed Tit

GREEN

9%

370000

Lesser Whitethroat

GREEN

11%

79000

Carrion Crow

GREEN

17%

1050000

Blackbird

GREEN

19%

4850000

Goldcrest

GREEN

19%

375000

Robin

GREEN

22%

6650000

Sand Martin

GREEN

26%

137250

Jay

GREEN

26%

165000

Great Tit

GREEN

31%

2200000

Siskin

GREEN

33%

430000

Reed Warbler

GREEN

35%

130000

Raven

GREEN

43%

9500

Jackdaw

GREEN

65%

1450000

Hooded Crow

GREEN

67%

185000

Nuthatch

GREEN

113%

250000

Chiffchaff

GREEN

123%

1650000

Stonechat

GREEN

147%

61000

Goldfinch

GREEN

150%

1600000

Blackcap

GREEN

195%

1600000

Species

Alert Type

Change in Population %

Population Estimate

Tree Sparrow

RED

-96%

225000

Willow Tit

RED

-94%

2750

Tree Pipit

RED

-92%

105000

Spotted Flycatcher

RED

-92%

38500

Nightingale

RED

-91%

5550

Lesser Redpoll

RED

-89%

220000

Starling

RED

-89%

1650000

Corn Bunting

RED

-83%

11000

Marsh Tit

RED

-80%

28500

House Martin

RED

-79%

470000

Linnet

RED

-73%

530000

Greenfinch

RED

-69%

760000

House Sparrow

RED

-69%

5150000

Yellow Wagtail

RED

-69%

19500

Yellowhammer

RED

-62%

685000

Skylark

RED

-61%

1500000

Mistle Thrush

RED

-58%

150000

Willow Warbler

AMBER

-69%

2050000

Whitethroat

AMBER

-63%

1100000

Meadow Pipit

AMBER

-52%

2250000

Song Thrush

AMBER

-49%

1200000

Sedge Warbler

AMBER

-42%

220000

Bullfinch

AMBER

-41%

225000

Dunnock

AMBER

-38%

2350000

Reed Bunting

AMBER

-19%

255000

Redstart

AMBER

-17%

135000

Wren

AMBER

94%

9750000

Pied / White Wagtail

GREEN

-70%

23500

Swallow

GREEN

-33%

625000

Garden Warbler

GREEN

-32%

145000

Blackbird

GREEN

-18%

4850000

Chaffinch

GREEN

-15%

4800000

Lesser Whitethroat

GREEN

2%

79000

Treecreeper

GREEN

8%

210000

Jay

GREEN

16%

165000

Blue Tit

GREEN

29%

3250000

Goldcrest

GREEN

34%

375000

Robin

GREEN

45%

6650000

Coal Tit

GREEN

57%

590000

Long Tailed Tit

GREEN

93%

370000

Great Tit

GREEN

93%

2200000

Magpie

GREEN

100%

555000

Reed Warbler

GREEN

105%

130000

Chiffchaff

GREEN

113%

1650000

Carrion Crow

GREEN

130%

1050000

Goldfinch

GREEN

136%

1600000

Hooded Crow

GREEN

146%

185000

Nuthatch

GREEN

299%

250000

Blackcap

GREEN

373%

1600000

Jackdaw

GREEN

146%%

1450000

Birds not monitored by the BTO:

Species

Alert
Type

Population
Estimate

Cirl Bunting

RED

1100

Hawfinch

RED

750

Marsh Warbler

RED

8

Red-backed Shrike

RED

3

Ring Ouzel

RED

7300

Savi's Warbler

RED

5

Twite

RED

7800

Black Redstart

AMBER

58

Dartford Warbler

AMBER

2200

Parrot Crossbill

AMBER

65

Redwing

AMBER

24

Scottish Crossbill

AMBER

6800

Snow Bunting

AMBER

60

Bearded Tit

GREEN

695

Rock pipit

GREEN

34000

Chough

GREEN

330

Woodlark

GREEN

2300

Firecrest

GREEN

2000

Crested Tit

GREEN

1500

Figures taken from BTO/JNCC BirdTrends Report
https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/birdtrends
Last updated 01 February 2023

Yellowhammer singing

References

Stanbury, A.J., Eaton, M.A., Aebischer, N.J., Balmer, D., Brown, A.F., Douse, A., Lindley, P., McCulloch, N., Noble, D.G., Win, I. (2021) The status of our bird populations: the fifth Birds of Conservation Concern in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man and second IUCN Red List assessment of extinction risk for Great Britain. British Birds. 114

Woodward, I., Aebischer, N., Burnell,D., Eaton, M., Frost, T., Hall, C., Stroud, D. & Noble, D. (2020) Population estimates of birds in Great Britain and the United Kingdom. British Birds. 113: 69–104.

Woodward, I.D., Massimino, D., Hammond, M.J., Barber, L., Barimore, C., Harris, S.J., Leech, D.I., Noble, D.G., Walker, R.H., Baillie, S.R. & Robinson, R.A. (2020) BirdTrends 2020: trends in numbers, breeding success and survival for UK breeding birds. BTO Research Report 732. BTO, Thetford. www.bto.org/birdtrends

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