UK Wildlife

Song Thrush Decline and Conservation Priorities

The song thrush has declined severely in the UK since the 1970s, with populations down nearly 50%, driven by agricultural intensification and loss of invertebrate-rich habitat.

Key Facts

Song thrushes use stones as anvils to crack open snail shells - a unique behaviour
UK population declined by around 50% since the 1970s, with rural areas worst affected
One of the first dawn chorus singers, with a distinctive pattern of repeated phrases
Dependent on earthworms and snails, requiring moist, uncompacted soil
Winter mortality is high when frozen ground makes earthworm foraging impossible

Welfare Considerations

Song thrush declines are linked to loss of mixed farming, pesticide use reducing invertebrates, and loss of hedgerows. Garden populations have fared better than farmland. Avoiding pesticides and maintaining moist soil habitat are key conservation actions.

What You Can Do

Avoid pesticides including slug pellets which kill snails that thrushes eat
Create a wildlife garden pond to maintain moist soil conditions nearby
Record song thrush sightings through BTO surveys to track recovery