Rise of the Generalists: evidence for climate driven homogenization in avian communities

Using Breeding Bird Survey data from 1994 onwards, scientists at the BTO found that recent temperature increases had a positive effect on the number of bird species. However, there was also a negative effect of rising temperatures on ‘specialist’ species (species with specific habitat requirements). It appears that the winners from recent climate change were already common habitat generalists that have expanded their ranges, such as Great Spotted Woodpecker - up by 139%, likely at the expense of habitat specialists such as the Grey Partridge and Corn Bunting, which have declined by 50% and 29%, respectively, over the period of the study.

Overall, this means that with climate change, bird communities across the UK are becoming more similar to each other as vulnerable range-restricted species are outcompeted by more resilient common species.