Finland’s breeding bird populations decline by 6% over two decades, with steep drops in two regions

Breeding bird numbers in Finland have fallen by 6% in the past 20 years, according to new data from the University of Helsinki, with regional variations showing sharp declines in Central Ostrobothnia and Central Finland, where populations have dropped by nearly 23%.

Declines have been widespread across southern and central Finland, while populations in North Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, and Lapland have remained stable or even increased. Researchers attribute the differences to land-use changes—particularly forestry and agriculture—and climate change.

Several species, including the redwing, whitethroat, crested tit, and chaffinch, have seen broad declines in southern and central regions, though some of the same species have thrived in the north. Meanwhile, the hooded crow, magpie, and great tit have decreased in every region.

The chaffinch remains the most common breeding species nationwide, except in Lapland, where the willow warbler dominates. Other abundant species vary by region but include the common redstart, white wagtail, blackbird, fieldfare, European robin, pied flycatcher, blue tit, great tit, tree pipit, greenfinch, and yellowhammer.

Despite expectations that warming temperatures would benefit southern species by expanding their range northward, populations of the garden warbler, icterine warbler, red-rumped swallow, and yellowhammer have instead declined.

“For many species, habitat changes driven by intensified forestry and agriculture outweigh the effects of climate change,” said Tero Toivanen, a conservation specialist at BirdLife Finland.

While some southern species—such as the wren, blackbird, blackcap, and wood warbler—have increased, these gains have not offset overall declines in regional bird numbers.