Spanish Farmland Birds in Retreat as Intensification Drives Widespread Range Loss
Two decades of atlas data show major contractions in steppe and farmland species, with agricultural yields emerging as a key driver of decline
Steep declines across bird guilds
A comprehensive new study of Spain’s breeding bird atlases has revealed widespread range contractions among farmland and steppe birds over the past 20 years. Analysing data from 37 species across 186 agricultural counties, researchers found that species richness declined significantly in all three groups studied - strict steppe birds, farmland birds, and extended-farmland birds.
Agricultural yields, used as a proxy for intensification, had a strong negative effect on both species richness and individual distributions, while herbaceous crops provided the most consistently positive associations. The results highlight how intensification is driving habitat loss and homogenisation of bird communities, even in one of Europe’s farmland biodiversity strongholds.
Winners, losers, and the scale of change
Of the 37 species analysed, 33 contracted their ranges, with average reductions of 32% in occupied grid cells. The Barn Owl Tyto alba suffered the most severe contraction (-65%), while steppe specialists such as Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax, Great Bustard Otis tarda, and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata also showed marked declines.
Only four species expanded their ranges: Eurasian Collared Dove, Short-eared Owl, Lesser Kestrel, and Collared Pratincole. These gains were often linked to opportunistic colonisation or shifting land-use patterns rather than genuine population recovery.
Complex responses to land use
Herbaceous crops supported diverse assemblages, yet the benefits were outweighed by the detrimental impacts of yield-driven intensification. Surprisingly, fallow land often had negative associations with bird richness, likely reflecting poor-quality management of these areas.
Woody crops such as olive groves and vineyards produced mixed results - sometimes used by steppe birds under traditional management, but widely considered detrimental when modernised into intensive systems. Pastures also showed contrasting effects depending on grazing intensity and management, with overgrazing or sown grasslands reducing their suitability for birds.
Urgent need for sustainable practices
The authors conclude that under current agricultural models “virtually all species are losers.” Even generalist farmland birds are increasingly vulnerable to intensification, with only a handful of exceptions showing expansion.
They call for urgent implementation of the EU’s new Nature Restoration Regulation, which requires the restoration of high-diversity farmland features such as ecologically functional fallows, rotational grazing, and reduced agrochemical inputs. Without such measures, the long-term viability of farmland bird populations in Spain - and across Europe - remains in jeopardy.
September 2025
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