Stand selection by birds in Scots pinewoods in Scotland: the need for more old‐growth pinewood

A study at Abernethy Forest, Scotland, examined stand selection by some of the birds of conservation concern that inhabit pinewoods. Abernethy Forest was ideally suited for the study because all four main stand types of forest development (stand initiation, stem exclusion, understorey reinitiation and old‐growth) were represented. Capercaillies Tetrao urogallus (both males and females) and crossbills Loxia spp. preferred old‐growth pinewood in winter, and Redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurus and Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis preferred old‐growth in summer. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major selected snags in old‐growth to excavate nest and roost sites. In winter, Crested Tits Parus cristatus had a weak selection for old‐growth stands and Bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhula preferred stands at initiation. Possible reasons for these preferences are put forward. Although the area of conifer woodland in Scotland is 888 000 ha, it largely comprises North American species destined to be cut before reaching old‐growth. Old‐growth pinewood in Scotland is largely confined to the fragments of ancient native pinewood, amounting to only 16 000 ha. To conserve some pinewood birds of conservation concern, a mechanism to allow more Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris woods to reach and remain in an old‐growth state needs to be pursued.