Wildlife

Wild Capercaillie Conservation and Welfare

The capercaillie is Scotland's largest bird and is critically endangered, with fewer than 500 remaining and welfare implications of both decline and management interventions.

Key Facts

Scotland's capercaillie population fell from over 20,000 in 1970 to under 500 by 2025
Disturbance at leks (display grounds) causes nest abandonment and chick desertion
Collision with deer fencing is a major mortality cause for capercaillie chicks
Supplementary feeding has been used controversially with mixed welfare outcomes
Predator management including legal control of corvids supports capercaillie recovery

Welfare Considerations

At critically low population levels, individual capercaillie welfare and population recovery are inseparable concerns. Management interventions including predator control cause welfare trade-offs that must be weighed against extinction risk.

What You Can Do

Follow Capercaillie Code guidelines if visiting capercaillie areas in Scotland
Support RSPB Scotland and other organisations working on capercaillie recovery
Advocate for deer fence marking and removal in capercaillie habitat
Learn about capercaillie ecology and the threats they face