What does the Wildlife and Countryside Act protect?

Although the Act protects a broad range of wildlife from beetles to bluebells, it was primarily designed to protect all wild birds, their nests, and their eggs. Individuals can be prosecuted for intentionally or recklessly killing, injuring, or taking any wild bird; for taking, damaging, or destroying the nest or egg of a wild bird; and for disturbing dependent young birds.

Schedule 1 lists the species afforded the highest level of protection. These birds are rarer or more vulnerable, and offences against them carry the most severe penalties. It is illegal to intentionally or recklessly disturb a Schedule 1 species while it is building a nest, or when it is in, on, or near a nest containing eggs or young. Disturbing dependent young of a Schedule 1 species is also an offence.

Schedule 3 covers bird species that may be sold alive, provided they were bred in captivity and fitted with an approved identification ring. Many songbird species fall under this schedule.

See below for the songbird species listed under Schedules 1 and 3.