The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Cornish Red Data Book (2009). The map on this web page depicts the organisms distribution and shows the records made pre-2000 and those made since.
Range & Status
Palearctic; in Britain and Ireland 20,000 pairs (chiefly Wales and west Britain).
Regional Distribution
Cornwall: local summer visitor in small numbers to woodlands of east and mid Cornwall (currently one-five singing birds annually). Now difficult to find in upper reaches of Camel, Fowey, Lynher and Tamar valleys. Has undergone marked decline since 1960s, when 40-50 pairs were probably present. Exceptionally rare as a coastal migrant. Isles of Scilly: scarce migrant.
Habitat & Ecology
Mature broadleaved woodlands, with restricted understorey.
Threats
Destruction of ancient woodlands and subsequent replacement with conifers.
Conservation
Protection of remaining woodlands. One site (Draynes Woods) is a NNR. Listed (long list) as a globally threatened/declining species (BSGR, 1995).
I.J. Bennallick, S. Board, C.N. French, P.A. Gainey, C. Neil, R. Parslow, A. Spalding and P.E. Tompsett. eds. 2009. Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition.Croceago Press.
The Cornish Red Data Book Project was led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders (CISFBR). The full text and species accounts (minus the maps) are available on the CISFBR website.