Overview

This is the 31st annual report of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and Waterways Breeding Bird Survey (WBBS), documenting the population abundance trends of widespread UK breeding bird species during the periods 1994–2025 and 1998–2025 respectively. These are the main schemes for monitoring the population changes of the UK’s widespread breeding birds, providing an important indicator of the health of the countryside.

The results are published annually as Official Statistics and used widely by Defra and the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs, e.g. Natural England and NatureScot) to set priorities and to inform conservation action, and as the evidence base against which the UK’s biodiversity targets are measured.

BBS data are also routinely used in research, with recent examples including peer-reviewed papers published in 2022 and 2024, which measured the efficacy of the UK’s network of protected areas in supporting wildlife.

In this report

The 2025 Breeding Bird Survey Report highlights the varying fortunes of four of the UK’s widely monitored wild doves and pigeons. Whilst Stock Dove and Woodpigeon are faring well – Stock Dove has increased by over 40% in the last 10 years – the Turtle Dove decline shows no sign of abating, and Collared Dove has declined by around 40% since 2005. 

In Scotland, species of woodland and scrub – including Willow Warbler, Tree Pipit and Bullfinch – continue to increase, whilst populations further south in Britain are declining. In Wales, there are mixed fortunes. Woodland species such as Great Spotted Woodpecker have increased over threefold, and Nuthatch has increased by 55%, since 1995. Meanwhile, Curlew and Yellowhammer continue to decline. 

In Northern Ireland, which sees a change of baseline for monitoring trends from 1994 to 1996, the pattern of increasing Song Thrush (+75%, 1997–2024) and declining Mistle Thrush (-35%) highlights a UK-wide pattern for these two closely related species. Several species are not monitored by BBS in Northern Ireland, particularly farmland birds such as Kestrel, Curlew and Yellowhammer, and additional efforts are underway to improve monitoring in these declining species.

The 2025 season was also noteworthy for seeing a record number of 1-km squares being visited, with over 2,800 surveyors visiting 4,058 sites. We thank these skilled and dedicated volunteers who give their time to BBS and WBBS and make the monitoring of the UK’s breeding birds possible.

• Read and download the 2025 report
• Or, browse all editions of the Breeding Bird Survey Report