Peatland wildlife
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Male hen harrier
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Birds
It is difficult to list all the bird species found on peatlands
as many only live on the edges of fens and bogs. Common garden
birds such as the robin and chaffinch are found on peatland
if it is close to scrub or woodland, their favoured habitat.
However, there are a number of bird species that have a strong
association with peatlands. The lack of predators and human
disturbance makes some peatlands ideal for birds to nest and
bring up their chicks. Other birds use peatlands, especially
during the summer months, as a food source. The abundance of
insects, spiders, and even frogs, plus the amount of nutritious
vegetation and berries provides food for several species. The
characteristic large areas of open ground of blanket bogs are
ideal hunting ground for some birds of prey.
Information on some species of birds that have a close association
with peatlands is given in the table below.
