Here is an interesting fact I recently found. The UK only has one unique species and that is the Scottish crossbill (picture below). There is thought to be less than 2000 of them in the UK and from an article I saw on the BBC earlier this week could be badly affected by global warming. As they are our only unique species, that's a pretty good reason to make sure they stay around! According to Wikipedia conservation efforts are in there early stages, but there are no sources that back this up.

Has anyone been lucky enough to see one?

This post was last modified: 27-04-2008 12:31 PM by Kingfisher.

I thought Red Grouse was also indigenous to Britain too.

I have seen (and heard) Scottish Crossbill in Abernethy Forest.

Same here Paul! I too saw Crossbills in Abernethy forest.

I find that article baffling - as I've also seen Crossbills as far South as Kent, in the Bedgebury Pinetum, near Ashford - so they CAN survive in a warmer climate! But then there's always been this debate - is there a Scottish Crossbill & an English Crossbill? The warden at RSPB Abernethy believes there is just ONE Crossbill species . . . What does everyone else think or believe?

I believe it is now thought that the two are different species, although I'm not sure how this was shown to be the case and how solid the science behind it is. I will have a look around though.

I dont think it was to do with not being able to survive in a warmer climate, but more to do with loss of habitat. Im struggling to remember the exact details, I read the article on the BBC too.

Ive never seen or heard one either Xeract. But for the record, I do believe there is two species!

I've seen crossbills in the Rothiemurchus Forest. I don't believe that the crossbill will be affected by climate change as badly as that artical makes out. They may be pushed a bit further north and they may interbreed with other crossbills. but they will adapt to changes and survive. I'm sitting on the fence in the debate over whether there is a separate species in scotland, somehow I doubt it possible.

It seems I need to get up to Abernethy or Rothiemurchus forest and try and take a look at them. As for global warming affecting them, it is difficult to see how even the wider scheme of climate change will happen let alone for individual species of bird. I'm sure it could adapt or move to a more suitable place should the need arise.

I had a look on the RSPB website and while it doesn't specifically say Red Grouse are native to the UK, under breeding partners in Europe there is just a dash so perhaps it is unique to Britain?

It has a close relative, Willow Grouse, that occurs in Finland, Norway etc, but i'm sure it only occurs in Britain. Will look it up when i get a minute.

It seems that our only two unique birds are actually very close relatives of other birds, to the point that they might be the same as another bird

I hope they are different though, it would be great to know that we have a couple of bids you can see nowhere else.

I haven't!

It seems that our only two unique birds are actually very close relatives of other birds, to the point that they might be the same as another bird

Yes, it seems even scientists have a hard time telling the difference! I don't know much about it but wouldn't it be solved by a simple DNA test to see if they were the same species? Maybe it's not that simple. It would be nice to know whether it is a different species but perhaps it is not scientists priority at the moment.