Wildlife

Capercaillie Scotland Conservation Welfare

Capercaillie are Scotland's rarest bird, facing extinction from habitat loss, predation and disturbance.

Key Facts

The UK capercaillie population numbers fewer than 500 birds concentrated in the Cairngorms
Capercaillie became extinct in Scotland in 1785 and were successfully reintroduced in 1837
Current population decline is driven by predation, fence collisions and disturbance at leks
Restoration of Caledonian pinewood habitat is essential for long-term population recovery
Capercaillie lek sites require complete protection from human disturbance between March and June

Welfare Considerations

Individual capercaillie are highly sensitive to disturbance during breeding, causing nest abandonment and breeding failure. Fence collisions cause injury and death. Population welfare requires not only individual protection but habitat-scale intervention to restore the Caledonian forest ecosystem that supports this species.

What You Can Do

Stay on marked paths and away from lek sites during spring in the Cairngorms
Support RSPB Scotland and Cairngorms Connect habitat restoration programmes
Mark forestry fences in capercaillie habitat to reduce collision mortality
Learn about capercaillie through Scottish Wildlife Trust and RSPB resources