Endangered wildlife appeal
Woodland wildlife is fading before our eyes. Please support our appeal to save rare and threatened species.
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With declining woodland bird populations, protecting woodland habitats is more important than ever, from the lush canopy to the leaf litter below.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Barn owl
With bright white feathers and a distinctive heart-shaped face, there’s no mistaking the barn owl. Catching sight of one on the wing is always a delight.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Black grouse
An iconic bird which is becoming an increasingly rare sight. The black grouse is famed for its displays during the ‘lekking’ season.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Blackbird
Garden stalwarts. Famous songsters. Familiar friends. These sun-worshipping earthworm feasters are regular visitors to British gardens.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Blackcap
Named after the male’s signature black cap, this little bird arrives in the UK each spring, bringing with it the sweet sound of its beautiful song.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Blue tit
The blue tit might be famed for its bright, bold plumage, but it’s much more than just a pretty face. Spot it performing acrobatic displays while on the hunt for juicy caterpillars.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Brambling
Winter visitors with a taste for nuts. Flocks of brambling head to the UK each year, escaping the Scandinavian snow and taking advantage of the food on offer in our woods.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Bullfinch
Shy but striking. Bullfinches bring a brilliant burst of colour to the UK’s woods. The species depends on trees for much of its food, feeding on seeds and buds.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Buzzard
High-flying comeback kids. Soaring buzzards are a common sight above our woodlands once more. These impressive birds of prey have quadrupled in number since 1970.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Capercaillie
The world’s largest grouse, the capercaillie is an impressive bird which has roamed pine forests for thousands of years. Made extinct in the mid-18th century, it has since made a comeback, but is under threat of extinction in the UK once more.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Chaffinch
Colourful characters. The chaffinch is one of our most common birds, but that doesn’t detract from its beauty.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Chiffchaff
A dainty warbler named after its song. Chiffchaffs are increasingly taking advantage of the UK’s warming climate by staying here all year long.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Coal tit
The tiniest of tits with dull grey feathers to match its name. The coal tit is a frequent visitor to bird feeders across the UK.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Common crossbill
Bright colours and big beaks. The crossbill is a striking resident of coniferous woodland, using its unusually-shaped bill to extract pine seeds.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Cuckoo
A cunning master of misdirection, the cuckoo’s reputation precedes it. These brood parasites spook woodland birds from their nests, then lay their own eggs in them to be brought up by the host.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Dunnock
More than just a little brown job. Dunnocks may not be the most glamorous of birds, but there is more to this species than meets the eye, especially when it comes to mating.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Fieldfare
A winter visitor with an appetite for fruit. As the days begin to shorten, fieldfares head to the UK en masse. The fruit and berries of our native trees provide a vital source for these migrants.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Goldcrest
A tiny bird with a big hairdo. The goldcrest is our smallest bird species, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in colour.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Goldfinch
Seed-eating specialists with a bright red face. Goldfinches are perfectly adapted to access food other birds can’t reach.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Goshawk
Back from the brink of extinction, the goshawk is the ultimate woodland predator. Its wings are tailor-made for weaving through trees and hunting almost anything it outsizes.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Great spotted woodpecker
Not afraid to make itself heard. The great spotted woodpecker is equipped with a toolkit that makes it a true woodland specialist. Its strong beak and shock-absorbing skull are perfect for finding food and making its home among the trees.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Great tit
A familiar face. Great tits are among our most common birds, bringing a dash of green and yellow to woodland and gardens across the country.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Green woodpecker
A colourful character with a taste for ants. The laughing cry of the green woodpecker is one of the defining sounds of British woodland.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Greenfinch
A chunky-looking finch with a taste for sunflower seeds. Spring just wouldn't be the same without the male's wheezing song.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Hawfinch
This big-billed heavyweight can easily crush a cherry stone, but the UK’s largest finch is shy and hard to spot, spending most of its time in the canopy.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Hobby
A fast-flying falcon with rusty-red trousers. When not catching their prey in mid-air, hobbies rely on trees in which to raise their young.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Hooded crow
A striking scavenger with a taste for carrion. The hooded crow was once considered to be the same species as the carrion crow, but is now recognised separately.
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Trees woods and wildlife
House martin
Skilled architects with a penchant for moulding mud. House martins visit the UK to breed during the summer months. Named as such because they often nest on the side of houses, these small birds are sadly in decline.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Jay
A highly intelligent loudmouth. The jay is known for its love of acorns which it often leaves hidden. These forgotten snacks are credited with the rapid spread of oaks after the last Ice Age.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Kestrel
A hovering hunter that strikes from above. The kestrel is a common sight along woodland edges, using its razor-sharp vision to catch unsuspecting prey.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Kingfisher
Lightning fast and technicoloured, seeing a kingfisher always feels special. Spot them near rivers, diving low to catch tiny fish with impressive dexterity.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Lesser spotted woodpecker
Secretive tree-top dweller. The lesser spotted is our smallest, and rarest, woodpecker. These woodland specialists are one of the UK’s fastest-declining bird species.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Little owl
Small and stern, the little owl was first introduced to the UK in the 1800s. Look out for them in trees overlooking grassland from where they swoop to catch small prey with their sharp talons.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Long-eared owl
Wise and regal, with an imposing stare and elusive nature. Our most nocturnal owl, with a penchant for recycling other bird’s old nests. It lives in dense woodland and is a skilful hunter.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Long-tailed tit
Flying balls of fluff. These tiny woodland dwellers have a strong claim to be considered the UK’s cutest bird.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Mistle thrush
Britain’s largest songbird. Renowned for defending its food supply. Named for its love of mistletoe berries.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Nightingale
Nightingales are relatively dull in colour but they are famed for their rich and distinctive song.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Nightjar
Mysterious and elusive, the nightjar is one of our most intriguing birds. A summer visitor with bark-like plumage, it can be incredibly difficult to spot.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Nuthatch
Scuttling tree climbers. Look for these woodland specialists hurrying up and down tree trunks in search of food.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Osprey
Expert fisherman and a conservation success story. Back from the brink of extinction, the mighty osprey is breeding once again in every country of the UK.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Pied flycatcher
A quick and skilled aerial hunter. These summer visitors thrive in the mild, wet conditions of the UK's temperate rainforest.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Red kite
A majestic scavenger, the red kite searches for food in almost any environment, then returns to nest in broadleaved woodland. Look out for them wheeling high in the air, or nesting up in the canopy.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Redstart
Colourful summer visitor and Atlantic rainforest specialist. These handsome birds love the mild, wet conditions of the UK's west coast woodlands.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Redwing
Named after its rouge underwings, the redwing is the smallest thrush in the UK. A social nomad, this berry-loving bird only visits over the winter months, with just a handful of breeding pairs staying here all year round.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Robin
Feisty. Iconic. A Christmas card favourite and a gardener’s best friend. It’s no wonder this fiery little fella is one of Britain’s most-loved birds, frequenting the UK’s gardens in search of worms.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Rook
Raucous relative of the crow. After a day foraging in the fields, rooks head to the trees en masse; a noisy congregation settling down for a good night’s sleep among the branches.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Sand martin
These social summer visitors can be seen flitting from the river to their signature tunnel nests from March to October.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Siskin
Stunning seed eaters with striking plumage. Bright yellow siskins rely on trees such as alder and birch for food.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Song thrush
Famous for smashing open snails and for the sweet song which gives this bird its name. The song thrush was once a common sight in UK woodland, but is sadly in decline.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Sparrowhawk
With brilliant yellow eyes and long yellow talons, this small yet skilful predator swoops down to ambush its prey unawares. Strongly reliant on woodland, the sparrowhawk has been threatened in the past but is currently widespread throughout the UK.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Spotted flycatcher
Adept at snatching flying insects mid-air, the spotted flycatcher visits the UK during the warmer months, and is often seen on the wing in woodland edges and clearings.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Starling
Social songsters with shiny feathers and common garden visitors. These gregarious birds are probably most famed for their stunning murmuration displays.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Swallow
Symbol of summer and aerial acrobat. A bird with an instantly recognisable silhouette, the speedy swallow can out-fly most predators.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Swift
Super-fast flyers living almost their entire life on the wing. Swifts are summer visitors to the UK whose numbers have suffered a worrying decline.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Tawny owl
Hooting woodland hunter with silent wings. Without a sound, the tawny owl descends from its lofty perch to snatch unsuspecting rodents from the forest floor below.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Tree pipit
Small, unassuming, brown. This woodland edge insect-muncher is often overlooked. But what it lacks in looks it makes for with its belting song.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Tree sparrow
Shy and sweet countryside-lovers. The tree sparrow is rarely seen around humans, but might be spotted in lowland farmland when there's some grain to snaffle.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Treecreeper
These tiny birds live and breathe trees. Spot treecreepers scuttling up branches looking for a tasty morsel to bring to their nests.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Turtle dove
Named after its 'tur tur' call, the turtle dove is romantic, enigmatic, and at risk. It nests in shrubs and trees and feeds on the seeds of crops and woodland plants.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Wheatear
These migratory birds are seasoned travellers, embarking on an epic journey from Africa to the UK each spring. They favour upland habitats and nest in cavities between rocks.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Whitethroat
A summer visitor with a scratchy song. Around one million of these birds head to the UK each year to breed.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Willow warbler
A common and dainty summer visitor with a mournful song that rings through the trees. The willow warbler likes to sing and shake its feathers while it forages for insects.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Wood warbler
A woodland songster often heard trilling through the treetops, the wood warbler graces the UK with its rich song during the summer, before migrating to Africa for the winter.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Woodcock
These plump-looking birds spend much of their time curled up on the forest floor. Their clever camouflage allows them to blend in with their woodland surroundings.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Wren
Plump, short and loud-mouthed, the wren is one of our most common breeding birds. Though it’s small in size, it makes up for it with its powerful song.
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Wood Wise – birds in focus
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