PanEuropean Common Bird
Monitoring Scheme
Contacts

European Indicators

Accompanying text of the update and a set of main Wild Bird Indices for Europe and the EU, which are freely available for download as Excel sheets, are presented here.

Since January 2006, the European Commission has supported the production of European bird indicators.

If you wish to use the PECBMS outputs, we recommend reading the rules stated in the Data Access And Co-authorship Policy.

In 2024, we decided to change PECBMS terminology in some terms as follows:
The updated names of the PECBMS indicators align with official CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) terms used by BirdLife, the European Commission, and national and international policies. We also use the term ‘indicator’, but this applies to all the indicators we present in general.

Wild Bird Indices (so far, Common bird indicators)
All Bird Index (so far, All common birds)
Farmland Bird Index (so far, Common farmland birds)
Forest Bird Index (so far, Common forest birds)

Confidence limits may be shown only if the option All data in one graph is set to no.

All Bird Index, Europe, 1980-2023

List of species and their trends
List of countries

Trend of species contributing to the indicator:

  • Moderate decline 82
  • Moderate increase 46
  • Stable 36
  • Steep decline 1
  • Strong increase 0
  • Uncertain 3

All Bird Index, Europe

Species Base year Trend classification
Acanthis flammea 1980 Moderate decline
Accipiter nisus 1980 Stable
Acrocephalus arundinaceus 1982 Stable
Acrocephalus palustris 1980 Moderate decline
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 1980 Stable
Acrocephalus scirpaceus 1980 Moderate decline
Actitis hypoleucos 1980 Moderate decline
Aegithalos caudatus 1980 Stable
Alauda arvensis 1980 Moderate decline
Alcedo atthis 1991 Stable
Alectoris rufa 1998 Moderate decline
Anas platyrhynchos 1980 Moderate increase
Anthus campestris 1991 Uncertain
Anthus pratensis 1980 Moderate decline
Anthus trivialis 1980 Moderate decline
Apus apus 1980 Stable
Ardea cinerea 1980 Moderate increase
Bombycilla garrulus 1988 Moderate increase
Bubulcus ibis 1998 Moderate increase
Burhinus oedicnemus 1998 Moderate decline
Buteo buteo 1980 Moderate increase
Calandrella brachydactyla 1998 Stable
Calcarius lapponicus 2000 Moderate decline
Carduelis carduelis 1980 Moderate increase
Carduelis citrinella 2002 Moderate decline
Carpodacus erythrinus 1980 Moderate decline
Cecropis daurica 1998 Stable
Certhia brachydactyla 1982 Moderate increase
Certhia familiaris 1980 Moderate decline
Cettia cetti 1989 Moderate increase
Chloris chloris 1980 Moderate decline
Ciconia ciconia 1980 Moderate increase
Circus aeruginosus 1980 Moderate increase
Cisticola juncidis 1998 Stable
Clamator glandarius 1998 Moderate decline
Coccothraustes coccothraustes 1980 Stable
Columba oenas 1980 Moderate increase
Columba palumbus 1980 Moderate increase
Corvus corax 1980 Moderate increase
Corvus corone 1980 Moderate increase
Corvus frugilegus 1980 Moderate increase
Corvus monedula 1980 Stable
Cuculus canorus 1980 Moderate decline
Curruca cantillans / Curruca subalpina 1989 Moderate increase
Curruca communis 1980 Moderate increase
Curruca curruca 1980 Stable
Curruca hortensis 1989 Moderate increase
Curruca melanocephala 1989 Stable
Curruca nisoria 1982 Stable
Curruca undata 1998 Moderate decline
Cyanistes caeruleus 1980 Moderate increase
Cyanopica cooki 1998 Moderate increase
Cygnus olor 1980 Moderate increase
Delichon urbicum 1980 Moderate decline
Dendrocopos major 1980 Moderate increase
Dendrocopos syriacus 1999 Stable
Dryobates minor 1980 Uncertain
Dryocopus martius 1980 Moderate increase
Egretta garzetta 2000 Stable
Emberiza calandra 1980 Moderate decline
Emberiza cia 1998 Moderate decline
Emberiza cirlus 1989 Stable
Emberiza citrinella 1980 Moderate decline
Emberiza hortulana 1980 Moderate decline
Emberiza melanocephala 2002 Moderate decline
Emberiza rustica 1980 Moderate decline
Emberiza schoeniclus 1980 Moderate decline
Erithacus rubecula 1980 Moderate increase
Falco tinnunculus 1980 Moderate decline
Ficedula albicollis 1982 Moderate increase
Ficedula hypoleuca 1980 Moderate decline
Fringilla coelebs 1980 Moderate decline
Fringilla montifringilla 1980 Moderate decline
Fulica atra 1980 Stable
Galerida cristata 1982 Moderate decline
Galerida theklae 1998 Moderate increase
Gallinago gallinago 1980 Moderate decline
Gallinula chloropus 1980 Moderate decline
Garrulus glandarius 1980 Moderate increase
Grus grus 1984 Moderate increase
Haematopus ostralegus 1980 Moderate decline
Hippolais icterina 1980 Moderate decline
Hippolais polyglotta 1989 Moderate decline
Hirundo rustica 1980 Moderate decline
Iduna pallida 2005 Stable
Jynx torquilla 1980 Moderate decline
Lanius collurio 1980 Stable
Lanius minor 1999 Moderate decline
Lanius senator 1998 Moderate decline
Larus ridibundus 1990 Moderate decline
Leiopicus medius 1989 Moderate increase
Limosa limosa 1984 Moderate decline
Linaria cannabina 1980 Moderate decline
Locustella fluviatilis 1982 Moderate decline
Locustella naevia 1980 Moderate decline
Lophophanes cristatus 1980 Moderate decline
Lullula arborea 1980 Moderate increase
Luscinia luscinia 1980 Moderate decline
Luscinia megarhynchos 1980 Moderate decline
Luscinia svecica 1996 Moderate decline
Lyrurus tetrix 1996 Stable
Melanocorypha calandra 1998 Moderate decline
Merops apiaster 1989 Uncertain
Motacilla alba 1980 Stable
Motacilla cinerea 1980 Stable
Motacilla flava 1980 Moderate decline
Muscicapa striata 1980 Moderate decline
Nucifraga caryocatactes 1982 Stable
Numenius arquata 1980 Moderate decline
Numenius phaeopus 1984 Moderate increase
Oenanthe hispanica 1998 Moderate decline
Oenanthe oenanthe 1980 Moderate decline
Oriolus oriolus 1982 Stable
Parus major 1980 Moderate increase
Passer domesticus 1980 Moderate decline
Passer montanus 1980 Moderate decline
Perdix perdix 1980 Moderate decline
Periparus ater 1980 Moderate decline
Petronia petronia 1998 Stable
Phasianus colchicus 1980 Moderate increase
Phoenicurus ochruros 1982 Moderate increase
Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1980 Moderate increase
Phylloscopus bonelli 1989 Moderate increase
Phylloscopus collybita 1980 Moderate increase
Phylloscopus sibilatrix 1980 Moderate decline
Phylloscopus trochilus 1980 Moderate decline
Pica pica 1980 Moderate decline
Picus canus 1989 Stable
Picus viridis / Picus sharpei 1980 Moderate increase
Pluvialis apricaria 1981 Stable
Podiceps cristatus 1990 Moderate decline
Poecile montanus 1980 Moderate decline
Poecile palustris 1980 Moderate decline
Prunella modularis 1980 Moderate decline
Ptyonoprogne rupestris 1998 Moderate increase
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 1998 Stable
Pyrrhula pyrrhula 1980 Moderate decline
Regulus ignicapilla 1982 Moderate increase
Regulus regulus 1980 Moderate decline
Saxicola rubetra 1980 Moderate decline
Saxicola torquatus 1989 Stable
Serinus serinus 1982 Moderate decline
Sitta europaea 1980 Moderate increase
Spinus spinus 1980 Moderate decline
Streptopelia decaocto 1980 Moderate increase
Streptopelia turtur 1980 Moderate decline
Sturnus unicolor 1998 Stable
Sturnus vulgaris 1980 Moderate decline
Sylvia atricapilla 1980 Moderate increase
Sylvia borin 1980 Moderate decline
Tachybaptus ruficollis 1990 Moderate decline
Tadorna tadorna 1991 Moderate decline
Tetrastes bonasia 1980 Moderate decline
Tetrax tetrax 1998 Steep decline
Tringa erythropus 2006 Stable
Tringa glareola 1980 Moderate decline
Tringa nebularia 1998 Stable
Tringa ochropus 1980 Stable
Tringa totanus 1980 Moderate decline
Troglodytes troglodytes 1980 Moderate increase
Turdus iliacus 1980 Moderate decline
Turdus merula 1980 Moderate increase
Turdus philomelos 1980 Moderate increase
Turdus pilaris 1980 Moderate decline
Turdus torquatus 1998 Stable
Turdus viscivorus 1980 Moderate decline
Upupa epops 1989 Stable
Vanellus vanellus 1980 Moderate decline

All Bird Index, Europe

Countries
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Ireland
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Farmland Bird Index, Europe, 1980-2023

List of species and their trends
List of countries

Trend of species contributing to the indicator:

  • Moderate decline 25
  • Moderate increase 5
  • Stable 7
  • Steep decline 1
  • Strong increase 0
  • Uncertain 1

Farmland Bird Index, Europe

Species Base year Trend classification
Alauda arvensis 1980 Moderate decline
Alectoris rufa 1998 Moderate decline
Anthus campestris 1991 Uncertain
Anthus pratensis 1980 Moderate decline
Bubulcus ibis 1998 Moderate increase
Burhinus oedicnemus 1998 Moderate decline
Calandrella brachydactyla 1998 Stable
Ciconia ciconia 1980 Moderate increase
Corvus frugilegus 1980 Moderate increase
Curruca communis 1980 Moderate increase
Emberiza calandra 1980 Moderate decline
Emberiza cirlus 1989 Stable
Emberiza citrinella 1980 Moderate decline
Emberiza hortulana 1980 Moderate decline
Emberiza melanocephala 2002 Moderate decline
Falco tinnunculus 1980 Moderate decline
Galerida cristata 1982 Moderate decline
Galerida theklae 1998 Moderate increase
Hirundo rustica 1980 Moderate decline
Lanius collurio 1980 Stable
Lanius minor 1999 Moderate decline
Lanius senator 1998 Moderate decline
Limosa limosa 1984 Moderate decline
Linaria cannabina 1980 Moderate decline
Melanocorypha calandra 1998 Moderate decline
Motacilla flava 1980 Moderate decline
Oenanthe hispanica 1998 Moderate decline
Passer montanus 1980 Moderate decline
Perdix perdix 1980 Moderate decline
Petronia petronia 1998 Stable
Saxicola rubetra 1980 Moderate decline
Saxicola torquatus 1989 Stable
Serinus serinus 1982 Moderate decline
Streptopelia turtur 1980 Moderate decline
Sturnus unicolor 1998 Stable
Sturnus vulgaris 1980 Moderate decline
Tetrax tetrax 1998 Steep decline
Upupa epops 1989 Stable
Vanellus vanellus 1980 Moderate decline

Farmland Bird Index, Europe

Countries
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Ireland
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Forest Bird Index, Europe, 1980-2023

List of species and their trends
List of countries

Trend of species contributing to the indicator:

  • Moderate decline 15
  • Moderate increase 13
  • Stable 5
  • Steep decline 0
  • Strong increase 0
  • Uncertain 1

Forest Bird Index, Europe

Species Base year Trend classification
Accipiter nisus 1980 Stable
Anthus trivialis 1980 Moderate decline
Bombycilla garrulus 1988 Moderate increase
Carduelis citrinella 2002 Moderate decline
Certhia brachydactyla 1982 Moderate increase
Certhia familiaris 1980 Moderate decline
Coccothraustes coccothraustes 1980 Stable
Columba oenas 1980 Moderate increase
Cyanopica cooki 1998 Moderate increase
Dryobates minor 1980 Uncertain
Dryocopus martius 1980 Moderate increase
Emberiza rustica 1980 Moderate decline
Ficedula albicollis 1982 Moderate increase
Ficedula hypoleuca 1980 Moderate decline
Garrulus glandarius 1980 Moderate increase
Leiopicus medius 1989 Moderate increase
Lophophanes cristatus 1980 Moderate decline
Nucifraga caryocatactes 1982 Stable
Periparus ater 1980 Moderate decline
Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1980 Moderate increase
Phylloscopus bonelli 1989 Moderate increase
Phylloscopus collybita 1980 Moderate increase
Phylloscopus sibilatrix 1980 Moderate decline
Picus canus 1989 Stable
Poecile montanus 1980 Moderate decline
Poecile palustris 1980 Moderate decline
Pyrrhula pyrrhula 1980 Moderate decline
Regulus ignicapilla 1982 Moderate increase
Regulus regulus 1980 Moderate decline
Sitta europaea 1980 Moderate increase
Spinus spinus 1980 Moderate decline
Tetrastes bonasia 1980 Moderate decline
Tringa ochropus 1980 Stable
Turdus viscivorus 1980 Moderate decline

Forest Bird Index, Europe

Countries
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Ireland
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Source of the data: EBCC/BirdLife/RSPB/CSO

Wild Bird Indices, Europe

Indicator Region Time period No. of species Trend (%)a)
Europe 1980-2023 168 -18
Europe 1980-2023 39 -60
Europe 1980-2023 34 -8

Wild Bird Indices, EU

Indicator Region Time period No. of species Trend (%)a)
EU 1980-2023 168 -17
EU 1980-2023 39 -56
EU 1980-2023 34 -5
New EU 1982-2023 29 -51
Old EU 1980-2023 39 -53

Regional Wild Bird Indices

Indicator Region Time period No. of species Trend (%)a)
Central & East Europe 1982-2023 23 -33
Central & East Europe 1982-2023 27 -14
North Europe 1980-2023 14 -42
North Europe 1980-2023 24 -17
South Europe 1989-2023 37 -47
South Europe 1989-2023 25 -32
West Europe 1980-2023 22 -52
West Europe 1980-2023 29 5

a) Change (in %) in an index value between the first and last year of a time period.