Wild bird numbers continue to fall in UK with some species in ‘dramatic freefall’

Species index fell by 4% between 2019 and 2024 - although data shows woodland populations beginning to stabilise

Wild bird species face an accelerating decline in the UK, figures show, with some species heading for local extinction.

Bird numbers have plummeted since the 1970s, and government data shows that trend continuing; between 2019 and 2024 the species index declined in the UK by 4% and England by 7%.