Corn Bunting Survey 2025
A bird of arable lowland habitats, Corn Bunting numbers declined sharply in the UK in the 20th century and the species has been on the UK Red List since 1996. The species is now extinct in Ireland, while UK populations, especially those in Scotland, have becoming increasingly isolated from each other.
In the breeding season, male Corn Buntings can be spotted perched on posts or wires, singing a song that has been likened to the jangling of keys. Changes in farmland practices are thought to be responsible for Corn Bunting declines, via reductions in the seeds and invertebrates upon which this species feeds.
The Corn Bunting distribution in Moray was last surveyed in 2002-2006, during fieldwork for the North-East Scotland Breeding Bird Atlas. After a gap of 20 years, we are carrying out a repeat survey to assess any changes in the distribution. Further detail on the historical, and more recent, distribution can be found in the recently published book The Birds of Moray & Nairn.
The 2025 Corn Bunting Survey is being coordinated by a small group of Moray Bird Club members, led by Karen Cunningham.
To match the methods of 2002-2006, the survey unit will be the tetrad, which is a 2×2 km square. The survey will require two visits to each tetrad, one in June and one in July.
Detailed instructions for the survey can be found here: Corn Bunting Survey 2025 – Instructions
Coverage progress
The survey is confined to areas of suitable habitat (largely lowland arable farmland country) in Moray and there are 145 tetrads containing such habitat which need to be surveyed. This is a large task and we hope that many people, Moray Bird Club members and others, will be willing to take on one or more tetrads. As at 24 June, 119 tetrads have been allocated, so a choice from 26 remains. The links below will take you to maps which indicate the area to be covered. Tetrads which are already ‘taken’ are shaded in red. The map will be updated at regular intervals as tetrads become allocated.
Allocated Tetrads West 24 June
Allocated Tetrads East 24 June
Please study the maps and choose your tetrad(s). Then email Karen.Cunningham@rspb.org.uk to let Karen know your choices, or with any queries you may have. You will then receive a Recording Card, including a detailed map of your tetrad – for example: Recording Card NJ36C
We do hope that as many people as possible will take part in this survey – the more complete the coverage, the greater the value. When the survey is complete the results will appear on this website, in the annual bird report Birds in Moray & Nairn and probably in the SOC journal Scottish Birds.
Update – 3 August
Now that the survey is complete, please return your Recording Cards to Karen Cunningham at Karen.Cunningham@rspb.org.uk