Wheatear: Long-Distance Migratory Welfare 2025

Key Welfare Facts

Wheatears breed across upland Britain and Arctic tundra, undertaking the longest migration of any small passerine.
Some Greenlandic populations cross the Atlantic twice annually, an extraordinary energetic welfare achievement.
Breeding welfare on UK moorlands depends on short-grazed turf with abundant invertebrate prey for chicks.
Migration stopovers on UK coastal grasslands and commons provide critical refuelling during autumn migration.
Habitat loss on wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa poses emerging welfare threats to long-distance migrants.
Climate change is altering arrival timing, creating potential mismatches with invertebrate prey availability.

Welfare Assessment

Wheatear welfare spans breeding grounds, migration routes, and African wintering areas requiring coordinated international conservation. Supporting upland habitat management in the UK and African wintering ground conservation addresses welfare across the full annual cycle.

What You Can Do

Support upland habitat management maintaining short-grazed turf for wheatear breeding
Advocate for protection of coastal grasslands used as migration stopovers in spring and autumn
Donate to organisations working on African savanna conservation supporting wintering wheatears
Record wheatear sightings for national monitoring to track arrival dates and population trends