Garden Birds

Song Thrush Welfare and Earthworm Decline from Pesticides

Song thrush populations have declined by 53% in the UK since the mid-1970s, partly linked to reduced earthworm availability from pesticide and soil compaction effects, removing a key food source for this snail and earthworm specialist.

Key Facts

Song thrush populations declined by 53% in the UK between 1970 and 2021
They specialise in smashing snails against anvil stones and probing for earthworms
Neonicotinoid and other pesticide use reduces earthworm populations in agricultural soils
Song thrushes are absent from much of intensively managed farmland in lowland England
Garden thrush populations have been more stable than rural populations

Welfare Considerations

Song thrushes experiencing earthworm shortages in dry or pesticide-contaminated soils must switch to alternative prey that they handle less efficiently. In drought conditions, hardened soil prevents earthworm access entirely. Juveniles that disperse into agricultural landscapes with depleted invertebrate communities face starvation risk in their first winter. The welfare of individual thrushes is directly linked to soil health and invertebrate abundance.

What You Can Do

Avoid pesticide use in gardens to support earthworm and invertebrate populations
Create lawns with varied grass height to improve thrush foraging habitat
Support Soil Association campaigns for healthier soil management
Donate to BTO monitoring of song thrush population trends
Plant berry-bearing shrubs including holly, yew, and cotoneaster for winter food