Birds

A wide range of birds can be found on farmland across the South Downs.  They can be split into two groups - Generalists and Specialists. 

Generalists are those species that use farmland for breeding and/or feeding but are not solely dependent upon it. They include woodpigeon, greenfinch and goldfinch.  

Specialists are those birds that are solely reliant upon farmland for their breeding and feeding requirements. They include grey partridge, lapwing, yellowhammer and skylark. 

The Specialists have fared worse over the last 40 years, and it is these birds that will benefit most from targeted conservation measures. 

• Click the pictures to find out more about identifying these South Downs birds
• Follow the links to find out more about what these birds need and how to encourage them on your land

	Corn Bunting Corn bunting advisory sheet - RSPB
	Grey Partridge Grey Partridge Newsletter - GWCT Conserving the grey partridge - GWCT Restoring wild grey partridges on your farm - GWCT Providing nesting cover for wild grey partridges - GWCT Providing brood rearing cover for wild grey partridges - GWCT Providing winter cover and food for wild grey partridges - GWCT Using predation control to increase wild grey partridge numbers - GWCT Late winter and spring feeding of pheasants and partridged - GWCT Illustrated guide to grey partridge - NE Grey partridge advisory sheet - RSPB
	Lapwing Illustrated guide to managing farmland for lapwings - NE Lapwing advisory sheet - RSPB
	Linnet Linnet advisory sheet - RSPB
	Skylark Skylark advisory sheet - RSPB
	Stone-curlew Stone-curlew advisory sheet - RSPB
	Turtle dove Turtle dove advisory sheet - RSPB Operation Turtle Dove Project
	Yellowhammer Yellowhammer advisory sheet - RSPB
	Barn owl Barn owl advisory sheet - RSPB Barn owl nest box designs - RSPB

Images – corn bunting ©Andy Hay (rspb-images.com), grey partridge ©Des Sussex, lapwing ©Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com), linnet ©RSPB (rspb-images.com), skylark ©Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com), stone-curlew ©Andy Hay (rspb-images.com), turtle dove ©Andy Hay (rspb-images.com), yellowhammer ©Andy Hay (rspb-images.com), barn owl © John Bridges (rspb-images.com)