Corn buntings have declined by 90% since the 1970s and are now largely confined to arable farmland in eastern England, Scotland and parts of Ireland. Their welfare depends on arable farming practices.
Corn bunting welfare requires arable farming that maintains winter stubble, spring-sown crops, and weedy field margins. Their near-extinction in lowland England represents one of the most severe farmland bird welfare failures of the 20th century.