Skip to content

Woody habitat birds

Maintain old trees and ivy in parks and gardens for spotted flycatchers.

The lesser spotted woodpecker is one of the UK’s fastest declining birds and in Devon are largely only found around Dartmoor.

Rare willow tits needs a network of insect rich wet woodlands.

Spotted flycatcher – Ben.Andrew (rspb-images.com)

Light brown tree pipit perched on a branch

Tree pipit at Orcombe, Matt Knott

1. About

Devon supports a wide range of woody habitats, from ancient upland oak woods to wet woodlands, parkland and wood pastures, orchards, parks and gardens. They all provide food (especially seeds and insects), shelter and nesting sites for birds.   

Many species such as blackcap, great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and tree creeper are still common and widespread across Devon. However, other bird species such as lesser spotted woodpecker, willow tit, pied flycatcher and wood warbler have seen particularly severe declines in the last few decades. Although not all reasons are well understood, one key reason is thought to be lack of woodland management. This has reduced the structural diversity of woodlands which in turn has reduced the habitat for insects. For migratory species there may also be links to wintering habitats or migration routes, although evidence for this is limited.   

12 woodland species including mistle thrush, tawny owl and redstart are listed as Devon Species of Conservation Concern.  Seven of these are listed as Devon Special Species in need of particular action or attention and these are discussed below.

Key pressures and opportunities

A decline in the long-term rotational management of woodlands (including coppicing) has led to increased uniformity. However, different bird species have different needs. Some, such as pied flycatchers and wood warblers, prefer open habitats while others, such as marsh tits, prefer a dense understorey. These variations in habitat have been lost as woodland management has declined.      

The loss and fragmentation of wet woodlands is a problem for species such as willow tit and lesser spotted woodpecker. Woodlands are often small and fragmented, which makes it hard for sedentary species such as willow tit and marsh tit to disperse to new habitats.  

There’s an increasing move to continuous cover forestry. While this benefits some wildlife,  species such as nightjar and tree pipit benefit from clear-fell areas which provide open sites for ground-nesting.    

There are lots of woodland creation projects across Devon. For birds that need mature woodlands, such as pied flycatchers and lesser spotted woodpeckers, this is a long-term strategy. However, woodland edge species such as marsh tits will benefit fairly quickly from newly planted or naturally regenerating woodlands. 

See Woody habitat pages for more information on pressures and opportunities.

2. What we need to do and where

Devon Special Species

See Find out more for links to more detailed information on this group including management advice and records.

Lesser spotted woodpecker on the trunk of a tree

Lesser spotted woodpecker

Dendrocopos minor

Habitat 

Resident throughout the year, lesser spotted woodpeckers are mainly found in large, mature, open oak woodlands. However, they can also be found in mature wet woodland and parkland and wood pasture as both habitats have old, dead and decaying trees and so lots of insects. Their winter territories cover several hundred hectares and they seem to favour woodlands with a dense shrub layer.   

Population 

The lesser spotted woodpecker is the UK’s smallest and rarest woodpecker and one of the country’s fastest declining birds. Populations have reduced hugely since the 1980s and they’re on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red list. Reasons for the declines aren’t well understood but are thought to be related to loss of open woodland (due to lack of management), along with lack of deadwood, competition, predation and climate change.  

Lesser spotted woodpeckers were found in 15% of Devon tetrads in 1988 but this had declined to 2% by 2016. There are now thought to be only 30-50 pairs in the county. Most confirmed records are from oak woodlands on the fringes of Dartmoor but there are a few other records across the county. 

Actions

Manage and create large, well-connected woody habitats (open woodlands, mature wet woodland and parkland and wood pasture) with mature trees, dead and decaying wood and areas of dense scrub for lesser spotter woodpecker. 

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Woody habitats on Dartmoor, especially in southern and eastern Dartmoor valleys. See Mapping 

Light brown small pied flycatcher bird on a branch

Pied flycatcher and wood warbler

Light brown small pied flycatcher bird on a branch

Pied flycatcher

Ficedula hypoleuca

Habitat 

Pied flycatchers spend our winter in west Africa and come to the UK to breed. They’re found in heavily-wooded landscapes and tend to avoid small woods (less than 1 hectare).  In Devon, they’re mostly found in mature oak woodlands on the edge of Dartmoor and Exmoor, where they nest in pre-existing holes in old trees and nest boxes. They snatch flying insects from the air, ground and foliage and so prefer a fairly open understorey. 

Population 

The UK population declined around the turn of the millennium, but this decrease appears to have levelled off. However, they’re still on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Amber list and, as Devon is a stronghold, are a Devon Special Species. The reasons for their decline are largely unknown but are thought to be linked to conditions on migration. Nest box schemes in Dartmoor woods enable populations to be monitored.  

Yellow / green and white wood warbler bird in a tree

Wood warbler

Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Habitat 

Like pied flycatchers, wood warblers overwinter in Africa although they have a complex journey, migrating first to Italy, then the dry Sahel zone in Africa before eventually reaching tropical forest in Western Africa in November. They’re most often found in oak woodlands in western Britain. In Devon, they’re currently found in insect-rich Dartmoor and Exmoor oak woodlands with high canopy cover and fairly open understorey, similar habitat to pied flycatchers. They pick insects from vegetation in the canopy, nest on the ground and seem to need low perches, such as side branches, close to their nest.   

Population 

The national population has seen a huge decline and wood warblers have been on the UK Red List since 2009. Causes are unknown but are thought to include potential changes in wintering grounds or migration routes. Devon is a stronghold and the 1977-85 Devon Bird Atlas shows that they were then probably much more widespread across the county. 

Actions

Manage and create insect-rich oak woodlands for pied flycatchers and wood warblers with an open understorey, deadwood and mature trees. 

  • Lightly graze woodlands to maintain a low, species-rich field layer and sparse shrub layer that provides low perches for wood warblers. 
  • Eradicate invasives such as rhododendron and cherry laurel from woodlands to open up the understorey. 
  • Selectively thin, keeping at least 75% of the tree canopy to maintain shade and limit understorey regeneration. Keep mature trees with natural holes and deadwood.  
  • Consider extending the nest box schemes in woodlands with existing pied flycatcher populations. 

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Ancient Woodlands on and around Dartmoor and Exmoor. Actions should be targeted to the Pied flycatcher and Wood warbler woodlands mapped as Species Opportunity Areas. See Mapping   

A spotted flycatcher sits on a broken tree branch that is covered in moss and lichens against a backdrop of broadleaf ancient woodland. The bird is seen from the side on, facing towards the left of the frame. It has a white underbelly that gets increasingly speckled with grey towards the bib. The head is light brown speckled with white and grey and has a small black eye and short thin dark brown beak. The back of the bird and its wings are dark brown-grey going lighter towards the edges of each feather. The wings are longer and more angular than the small round body of the bird so protrude beyond the rear of the birds body.

Spotted flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Habitat 

Spotted flycatchers are summer migrants from Africa, often not arriving in the UK until late April or early May. They breed throughout the country, apart from the very far north and west. Spotted flycatchers can be found anywhere with large mature trees that support lots of insects such as woodlands, parklands and large gardens. In woodland, they seem to prefer sites which aren’t too open or too dense. They nest in sheltered crevices and on creepers climbing up walls and trees. They fly out from a perch to grab flying insects, usually returning to the same perch.  

Population 

The UK breeding population declined by 93% between 1967 and 2022 and they are on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List. It’s not fully known what caused this decline but is related to low nest success due to high levels of predation. It may also be related to habitat decline and fewer insects to feed on as well as issues during migration or in their wintering grounds. They’re widespread across Devon but in low numbers. 

Actions

Manage and create insect-rich open woody habitats with mature trees, deadwood, ivy and other climbers. 

  • In woodlands, create and enhance open woodland rides, glades and woodland edge with shelter and irregular edges.  

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Woody habitats across Devon. See Mapping.  Actions also apply to unmapped habitats such as gardens and parks.

Marsh tit

Poecile palustris

Habitat 

Marsh tits are a resident species that prefer large (minimum 0.5 hectares and generally over ten hectares), mature deciduous woodland with a dense shrub layer and shrubby woodland edges. They’re fairly sedentary birds and adults stay on or near their territory all year round. They nest in natural holes (and will use nest boxes) and feed on insects and seeds.   

Population 

The UK population declined by 80% between 1967 and 2022 and they are on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red list. The decline may be due to loss of habitat and connectivity as well as a decline in habitat condition (fewer insects and seeds), in particular loss of a dense shrub layer in many woodlands. Marsh tits may be outcompeted by blue tits and great tits.  

Marsh tits were once found in 60% of Devon tetrads but suffered a major decline and in 2016 were only found in 24%. They’re scarcer in the south and east.  

Actions

Manage and create large (over ten hectare) insect-rich woodlands with mature trees, a dense shrub layer and shrubby edge

  • Exclude deer and livestock to allow a dense shrub layer to develop. 
  • Restore rotation coppice cycles of about 15 years, with standards to open up the canopy and allow a shrub layer and future veteran trees to develop. 
  • Expand woodlands and increase connectivity between suitable woodlands to support dispersing juveniles. 

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Ancient and broadleaved woodlands (existing) and woody habitat expansion areas. Action is needed across Devon where marsh tits are recorded. See Mapping.   See the Devon Birds Atlas for marsh tit records.

Willow tit bird perched on a branch

Willow tit

Poecile montanus

Habitat 

Willow tits are a resident species that live in wet woodlands (often birch, willow, alder scrub) and feed on insects, especially craneflies. They prefer to nest in dense scrub that’s 2-4m high. Like marsh tits, they’re generally sedentary and poor at dispersing.  

Population 

In the UK the population is thought to have declined by 86% between 1995 and 2020. Their range has also contracted, especially in southern and eastern Britain. Willow tits are thought to be the country’s fastest declining resident bird and are on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List. It’s not fully understood why willow tit numbers have fallen but loss and fragmentation of wet woodlands is thought to be the main issue, along with loss of deadwood and predation of nests. Climate change may also be causing a loss of habitat and decline in insects.  

In Devon, willow tits are largely confined to wet woodlands in the northwest of the county and the north Dartmoor fringes. The 1988 Devon Bird Atlas reported willow tits in 12% of tetrads, with birds spread widely across northern Devon and scattered populations in east Devon. However, by the 2016 Bird Atlas, the number of occupied tetrads had dropped to just 3%. In 2016, Devon Birds and DBRC undertook a countywide survey. They recorded 297 breeding pairs, nearly 7% of the England population.   

Actions

Manage and create a network of insect-rich wet woodlands for willow tits, connected by hedge and stream corridors.

  • Maintain wet woodlands in willow tit areas with plenty of deadwood and scrub that’s 2-4m high. Avoid putting up nest boxes as they may favour competing species.  add dispersal distance….. 
  • Allow birch, alder and willow to regenerate on wet ground that’s not already a wildlife-rich habitat. 
  • Manage bushy hedgerow corridors and well-vegetated watercourses to improve connectivity between wet woodlands. 

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Wet woodlands within the Ancient and broadleaved woodlands (existing) layer. Actions should be targeted to the Species Opportunity Area mapped for willow tits. See Mapping.

Note that there is not currently a map of wet woodlands for Devon.

Lesser redpoll

Acanthis cabaret

Habitat 

The lesser redpoll is a small finch that feeds on invertebrates and seeds, in particular birch and alder. They’re therefore found in a wide range of habitats that support birch and alder including woodland, birch scrub, wet woodland, heathland and moorland edge with scrubby gorse and willow. They also use conifer woodlands with clearings, wide rides or areas with regenerating scrub, as well as young plantations.  

Population 

Lesser redpolls were abundant and widespread in lowland Britain in the 1970s but experienced a dramatic decline in population and range and no longer breed in large areas of lowland England. They’re on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red list. The decline may relate to loss of birch as woodlands have matured and birch has decreased.    

In Devon, they are scarce and mostly confined to Dartmoor and Exmoor. Numbers have decreased on the culm grasslands and Pebblebed heaths. 

Actions

Maintain areas of seed rich birch, alder and gorse in woodlands, on heathlands and on moorland edges. 

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: All areas mapped under Woody habitats, Heath, mire and species-rich rush pasture mosaics, Upland heath, bog and mire mosaics. See Mapping.  

Light brown tree pipit perched on a branch

Tree pipit and nightjar

Tree pipit

Anthus trivialis

Habitat 

Tree pipits are a long-distance summer migrant to the UK, arriving in April. They’re a ground nesting species, found in open woody habitats (young deciduous and conifer plantations, parkland and wood pasture, heathland, rough grassland) with isolated trees which they use as singing posts. They are not found in closed canopy woodlands. 

Population 

The population has undergone dramatic declines over recent decades and the species is on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List. It’s not known why but may include disturbance to nests, lack of open woody habitat and issues relating to migration or wintering grounds.  

In Devon, tree pipits mostly occur around Dartmoor and Exmoor with scattered pairs on heathlands and culm grasslands. Between 1988 and 2016 their range reduced from 36% of tetrads to just 13%. 

Grey, brown and black patterned nightjar, sat on a log with his eyes closed

Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Another ground nesting species that’s largely found on heaths but has important populations in Dartmoor conifer woodlands where they nest in areas of clear-fell.

Actions

Maintain open areas in woody habitats for ground nesting tree pipit and nightjar.

  • Keep some rotational clear-fell in conifer plantations to create open areas with trees. 
  • Reduce any potential disturbance to ground-nesting birds in areas with public access. 
  • For other actions for tree pipits and nightjars see Birds of moor, heath and rough grassland.

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Woody habitat mosaics, particularly Dartmoor and Exmoor. See Mapping.

Nightjars nest in clear-fell areas in Dartmoor’s large conifer plantations: Fernworthy, Bellever, Soussons and Brimpts.

Actions for all woody habitat birds

Habitat management and creation

All birds that use woody habitats will benefit from the actions set out in the following habitat pages: 

3. Inspiration

This section will be finalised following public consultation. Please share any case studies and places to visit.

Case studies

There’s lots of great work going on across Devon for woody habitat birds. For example:

Fingle woods

Fingle woods is an 825-acre ancient woodland, made up of eight different woods, in the Teign Valley on the northern edge of Dartmoor. In 2013, the National Trust and Woodland Trust bought the woodland and are restoring it for wildlife and for public access. 39 species of breeding birds have been recorded there, including lesser spotted woodpecker, wood warbler and pied flycatcher.  

Pied flycatcher nest boxes

Pied flycatcher nest boxes have been put up in 38 Devon woodlands as part of  PiedFly.Net. Exeter University and Devon Birds are working with community volunteers to co-ordinate pied flycatcher monitoring and better understand their ecology and population trends.   

Where to visit

Always follow the Countryside Code and keep to footpaths and sites that are managed for public access. 

Good places to see woody habitat birds are:

For information on visiting these and other sites that are open to the public please see the Explore Devon website.

4. Find out more

 This section will be tidied up and finalised following public consultation. Please share any links.

The Woodland Wildlife Toolkit has advice on managing woodlands for wildlife, in particular rare and declining species that are dependent on woodland habitats.   

The Devon Bird Atlas shows the distribution of birds in 1977-85 (published 1988) and 2007-13 (published 2016).    

The British Trust for Ornithology publish maps and books with statistics for species distribution and change

The RSPB publishes results from the National Willow Tit survey.    

Wotton, S. R., Eaton, M. A., Facey, R., Grice, P. V., & Bellamy, P. In prep). The status of the Willow Tit Poecile montanus population in Great Britain, 2019 to 2021.   

The Back from the Brink project has published a Willow Tit Conservation Handbook

Search this site:

clear