Woodland characteristics associated with the presence of Willow Tits Poecile montanus in a fragmented population

This study presents evidence that Willow Tits Poecile montanus in a declining UK population were more likely to have persisted in woodlands that were further away from a major road, and in which Great Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos major were not detected. No difference was found in woodland area, herb layer height, canopy cover, or maximum and mean vegetation height between woodlands where Willow Tits were present and those where they were not. Further investigation is required to see whether these relationships occur on a national scale and, if so, how they might be factored into conservation management plans for this species.