The European stonechat is a small, striking chat of coastal heathland and gorse scrub whose welfare reflects the health of the open, scrubby habitats that have declined dramatically across lowland Britain.
Stonechat welfare is acutely affected by severe winters that eliminate the invertebrate prey on which overwintering birds depend. The loss of gorse and heathland through agricultural improvement and development removes nesting and foraging habitat. Populations recover rapidly after mild winters but can crash during hard ones. Maintaining connected areas of lowland heathland with diverse gorse age structure is the primary welfare intervention.