Wildlife

Wild Capercaillie Conservation Scotland

Capercaillie are Scotland's largest grouse and are critically endangered in the UK, facing threats from disturbance, predation, and habitat loss.

Key Facts

UK capercaillie population is estimated at under 1,000 birds declining from 20,000 in the 1970s
Capercaillie are restricted to native Caledonian pinewood habitats in Scotland
Disturbance during lekking and nesting is a significant welfare and breeding threat
Fencing mortality - birds flying into deer fences - is a significant mortality source
RSPB and NatureScot are implementing emergency interventions including supplementary feeding

Welfare Considerations

Capercaillie face a critical welfare and conservation situation. Individual birds distressed by human intrusion near leks abandon displaying causing reproductive failure. Fence strike mortality causes traumatic death as capercaillie fly at low level and strike fences at speed. Emergency interventions including fence marking and disturbance buffer zones reduce both individual welfare harms and population-level breeding failure.

What You Can Do

Follow SNH disturbance guidelines when visiting capercaillie areas in spring
Support RSPB capercaillie emergency recovery programme
Advocate for deer fence marking or removal near capercaillie habitat
Donate to native woodland restoration that creates capercaillie habitat
Report capercaillie sightings to population monitoring projects