Wildlife

Wild Twite Upland Finch Welfare

Twite are rare upland finches declining dramatically across the UK, dependent on traditionally managed hay meadows and heather moorland for both breeding and seed food.

Key Facts

UK twite populations declined 72% between 1970 and 2020 making them one of our fastest-declining birds
Twite breed on moorland edges and feed on weed seeds in traditionally managed hay meadows
Loss of flower-rich hay meadows through intensification has removed winter seed food
Coastal saltmarshes provide critical wintering habitat for northern twite populations
RSPB Haweswater and Peak District projects are specifically targeted at twite recovery

Welfare Considerations

Twite welfare depends on traditionally managed meadows and moorland that have been devastated by agricultural intensification. Agri-environment schemes targeting twite food and nesting habitat are essential.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes maintaining traditional hay meadows in twite breeding areas
Record twite sightings through citizen science monitoring to track population trends
Donate to targeted twite recovery projects in peak district and upland areas
Raise awareness of twite as one of the UK's most critically declining farmland birds