‘We are hopeful’: small signs of recovery for Scotland’s rare capercaillie bird | Endangered species
After decades of decline, there are signs of hope for the capercaillie, one of Britain’s most endangered birds.
Charismatic grouse populations, found only in Caledonian pine forests in the Scottish Highlands, have increased by 50%, from 20 males in 2020 to 30 in 2025 at RSPB Abernethy.
This is a lifeline for the “horse of the forest”, whose numbers in the wild have dwindled to 532; these are the lowest levels recorded since research began more than 30 years ago. In the 1970s there were more than 20,000 birds.
Males were counted on spring lekking grounds – “lek” meaning play in Old Norse – as the showy black and red birds performed spectacular “flutter jumps” and made popping and clicking noises to impress smaller, camouflaged females.
capercaillie falls due to wet springs and summers, loss of high-quality forest habitat, increased predation of their eggs and chicks, collisions with deer fences and human disturbance, and even fears that social media attention is disturbing the birds. Low genetic diversity in the surviving population may also be a factor.
On: RSPB AbernethyConservationists have trialled a remote-controlled lawnmower to remove dominant scrub on inaccessible land to allow blackberries to thrive, which are an important food source for capercaillie and also host moth caterpillars, a vital protein for young chicks. The mower also creates open bare areas where chicks can stay warm after rain.
Virtual fencing collars on cattle have also enabled targeted forest grazing in areas where fencing is difficult or could pose a collision threat to flying grouse.
Abernethy holds over 20% of the 143 lekking men recorded in the 2025 national lek census.
RSPB Abernethy conservation manager Richard Mason said: “The increase in Lekking male grouse numbers is thanks to the huge amount of work we have undertaken to improve habitat quality. A combination of felling and extensive cattle grazing has significantly improved conditions in the forest. We are seeing many chicks reaching full size and we hope these techniques can support their recovery in Scotland, as the future of grouse remains in the balance.”
“There is still much work to be done for capercaillie, not just at RSPB Abernethy but in all capercaillie areas across Scotland. “By improving these native pine forests, we can all work together to save this incredible bird.”
There have been promising counts in other forests, including Strathspey, recording an increase in male capercaillie in 2023.
