Spectacular gamebird is threatened with extinction from Highlands

Britain's biggest and most spectacular gamebird, the capercaillie, is being pushed further towards extinction from its breeding grounds in the Highlands.

After years of decline, caused by fragmentation of their woodland habitat and wet weather in the summer breeding season, the population may be down to some 1,000 birds, from 20,000 in 1980. A survey for the British Trust for Ornithology published yesterday revealed that numbers were falling by 13 per cent a year.

Conservationists fear that they might become extinct in the Highlands. They disappeared from Scotland in 1785 and were reintroduced from Sweden about 160 years ago.

The black, turkey-sized birds, relatives of the black grouse, are often killed by flying into deer fences, which they cannot see.

There has been a voluntary ban on shooting them for several years.