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Evidence for contrasting causes of population change in two closely related, sympatric breeding species the Whinchat Saxicola rubetra and Stonechat Saxicola torquata in Britain

Capsule The recent population decline of Whinchats has accelerated, including core breeding areas of Britain. Contrasting patterns of change with Stonechat suggest a large-scale environmental driver is affecting the entire Whinchat population. Aims To explore broad geographical and landscape related differences in long-term patterns of population change in the Whinchat and Stonechat across Britain to identify candidate mechanisms of change. Methods The study uses 40 years of large-scale, long-term data from a series of three atlas studies to compare trends in range and abundance in Whinchats and Stonechats relative to landscape and weather variables. Results For Whinchats there has been a long-term and accelerating decline in abundance, that includes stronghold areas of Britain. The Stonechat population has undergone a net gain in abundance with regional and altitudinal variations. These two very different patterns of change suggest the relative ubiquity of decline in Whinchats has a common source affecting the whole population. Conclusions The scale and magnitude of decline in Whinchats should stimulate a revision of the species conservation status in Britain, with renewed focus on studying the species' ecology across its breeding and winter range in order to determine the likely large-scale drivers of its decline.