Overview of the RBBP Species Lists

Since the establishment of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel in 1972, there have been many changes to the list of the species considered and reported on by the Panel. Originally, the scope was restricted to the rare and very rare species that nested in the UK at the time (40–45 species). Over the years, other species were added on largely an ad hoc basis, but in 1996 the list was expanded to include all species on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). Rare non-native species were added at the same time. At all times, the purpose of inclusion was to provide information for conservation which could not readily be obtained from other recording schemes. For many species on our list, the UK has an international responsibility to report populations and status at regular intervals, so our data have an important role in maintaining this information.

After 2005, some of the more common and widespread species on Schedule 1 (such as Barn Owl and Kingfisher) were dropped from the list, and there have been subsequent changes whereby species with a population over a threshold were removed and others becoming rarer were added. From 2008 we have also reported annually on distinctive rare sub-species.

There are now clear criteria by which a species is judged for inclusion on the Panel’s list. All (native) species (or taxa) with a population of fewer than 2,000 breeding pairs (based on the most recent 5-year mean of RBBP figures) are automatically included. Some species with higher populations are retained if RBBP data still provide reliable annual totals or if alternative surveys (in particular the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey) are unable to support the calculation of population trends. Species showing strong declines, but where the population is perhaps still above the 2,000 pair threshold, may be added in advance. Note that some small passerines, such as Dartford Warbler, are susceptible to sudden population declines during long spells of particularly cold winter weather; although the populations can bounce back quite quickly during milder winters we would need to be sure that the population remained consistently over 2,000 pairs before we considered removing the species from our lists.

Data on non-native species are requested when the UK population is below 300 pairs.

The list of species we currently report on (both native and non-native taxa) can be downloaded here: RBBP Species List – current. The full list of all taxa ever considered by the RBBP (currently 219) can be downloaded as a PDF or an excel file. Both lists include supplementary information on breeding status and categories of regular breeders. Definitions of these terms can be found here.

Alternatively, separate lists of current species (both native and non-native) and species formerly considered can be viewed from the drop down menus under the Species Lists heading.