Number of males at RSPB Abernethy rises to 30, after ‘huge amount of work’ by conservationists in Highlands forests
After decades of decline, there are signs of hope for the capercaillie, one of Britain’s most endangered birds.
Populations of the charismatic grouse, which is found only in the Caledonian pine forests of the Scottish Highlands, have increased by 50%, from 20 males in 2020 to 30 in 2025 at RSPB Abernethy.
It is a lifeline for the “horse of the woods”, whose numbers have plummeted to 532 in the wild, the lowest recorded levels since surveying began more than 30 years ago. There were more than 20,000 birds in the 1970s.
The males were counted at spring lekking sites – “lek” is Old Norse for play – when the showy black and red birds perform spectacular “flutter jumps” and make popping and clicking sounds to woo the smaller, camouflaged females.
