Wildlife

Red-listed Farmland Birds: Welfare Crisis on UK Agricultural Land

Why 13 farmland bird species are red-listed and what agricultural reform would help.

Key Facts

13 farmland bird species are now red-listed in the UK — including yellowhammer, corn bunting, grey partridge
Farmland birds have declined by 57% since 1970 — the most dramatic collapse of any UK bird group
Intensification has removed winter stubble, permanent pasture, and hedgerow cover
Agri-environment schemes pay for wildlife-friendly practices but uptake is insufficient

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of red-listed farmland birds encompasses the experience of billions of individual birds across generations — starvation during hungry winter periods, failed breeding attempts, and progressive population collapse. Welfare-informed agricultural policy invests substantially in agri-environment schemes, mandates wildlife-friendly practices in basic payments, and targets effort in areas with remaining viable populations.

What You Can Do

Support the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts campaigns for farmland bird protection
Choose food from farms with agri-environment scheme participation where possible
Advocate for agricultural policy that makes wildlife-friendly farming the economic default