The 2021 report (BoCC 5) is a sobering read. More birds than ever before are on the Red List. It is now 70 species long – more than double the size it was in the first report in 1996.
Summer visitors seem to be in real trouble, with swifts and house martins joining other migrants such as the cuckoo, nightingale, spotted flycatcher and others on the Red List. Other visitors from Sub -Saharan Africa including the Sedge warbler and wheatear have moved from Green to Amber.
Other groups of birds are declining too
Greenfinch, ptarmigan and Montagu’s harrier were moved to the Red List, the first two species jumping straight from Green, owing to large declines in numbers.
Previous BoCC reports have highlighted the widespread decline of farmland and upland birds. The latest report found no overall improvement, with more of these birds being added to the Red List. There is also growing concern for some of our wintering waterbirds. Bewick's swan, goldeneye, smew and dunlin have joined the Red List, while the red-breasted merganser moves from Green to Amber.
Nine of the UK's birds are now classed as threatened with global extinction, with the kittiwake and Leach's storm-petrel joining seven others including the puffin.
Read a summary of the latest report here.