Starling Numbers Hit Record Low in UK Birdwatch Survey

RSPB reports an 85% decline in starlings per garden since 1979, with causes of the dramatic drop still unclear.

The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch recorded the lowest number of starlings in its 44-year history, with an 85% decline in average garden sightings since 1979.
Starlings have dropped from third to fourth place as the most commonly spotted species in the annual survey, raising alarm among conservationists.
The UK breeding population of starlings has declined by 82% between 1970 and 2022, according to long-term monitoring data.
Nearly 600,000 participants contributed to the 2025 survey, highlighting the critical role of citizen science in tracking bird population trends.
Despite the alarming decline, the RSPB reports insufficient evidence to determine specific causes, prompting calls for habitat conservation and broader environmental action.