Common bird index in Europe (Indicator)

Key messages: Long-term trends show that between 1990 and 2022 the index of 168 common birds decreased by 14% in the EU. The decline was much stronger in common farmland birds, at 40%, while the common forest bird index decreased by 3%.The past trend indicates a steady decline in the population of all common birds, which seems unlikely to be reversed by 2030.

EU Common bird index, 1990-2022

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Birds are sensitive to environmental pressures and their populations can serve as an indicator of the health of the environment and help measure progress towards the EU’s aim to put biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030.

Long-term population trends of all common birds in the 26 EU Member States with monitoring schemes reveal significant population declines (EEA, 2024). Between 1990 and 2022, the common bird index declined by 14%, while the common forest bird index decreased by 3%. The decline in common farmland birds was much more pronounced, at 40% (see Figure).

These trends demonstrate a major decline in biodiversity in Europe, caused by anthropogenic pressures. Agricultural intensification, in particular pesticides and fertiliser use, is the main pressure for most bird population declines. Other factors that have adverse effects on the recovery of populations are land use change and associated habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation; intensive forest management; climate change; and increasing competition for land for the production renewable energy and biofuels.

To ensure the recovery of common birds, Member States need to significantly increase the implementation of existing policies and put new conservation and restoration objectives and measures in place. It is crucial that more effective and ambitious measures to halt biodiversity loss are included in other policies, such as the EU common agricultural policy (CAP) — and that the CAP Strategic Plans support the implementation and effectiveness of the current and upcoming EU biodiversity and nature legislation.

Please consult the relevant indicators and signals below for a more comprehensive overview on the topic.

This indicator is a multi-species index measuring changes in population abundance of all common bird species (n=168), as well as those associated with specific habitats: common farmland bird species (n=39) and common forest bird species (n=34). The index for each group is calculated as an EU aggregate, using 1990 as a reference year. Each of the three EU bird indices is presented as a smoothed time series and is calculated with 95% confidence limits.

The data for this indicator originate from national monitoring data collected by the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme. 

Trends are derived from annual national breeding bird surveys undertaken in 26 EU countries. Skilled survey participants, including volunteers, carry out counting and data collection during the breeding season. Several count methods are employed (e.g. standardised point transects/line transects, territory mapping), using a variety of sampling strategies (from free choice of plots to stratified random sampling). Individual plot sizes vary within each country (from 1 × 1km or 2 × 2km squares to 2.5-degree grid squares to irregular polygons). 

The EU has been taking action to protect biodiversity for a considerable number of years, for example by adopting the Birds Directive (updated by Directive 2009/147/EC) and the Habitats Directive.

More information is available on the EEA SEBI 027 indicator webpage. 

References and footnotes

EEA, 2024, Common bird index in Europe (https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/common-bird-index-in-europe )
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EC, 2020, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the regions EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 Bringing nature back into our lives (COM/2020/380 final).
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EC, 2022, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the monitoring framework for the 8th Environment Action Programme: Measuring progress towards the attainment of the Programme’s 2030 and 2050 priority objectives (COM/2022/357 final).
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Common bird index in Europe (Indicator)

EU Common bird index, 1990-2022

Zero Pollution Action Plan 2030 target or policy objectives

Other relevant indicators and signals

References and footnotes