Factors Associated with the Breeding Distribution of Upland Birds in the South Pennines, England

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Abstract
(1) Discriminant function analysis was used to determine the environmental features associated with the breeding distribution of eight bird species in the southern Pennines. (2) Birds were recorded within 0.5-km squares, and data were also collected on land characteristics (twenty-seven classes reduced to seven land types), vegetation, potential disturbance and gamekeeping. (3) Golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), dunlin (Calidris alpina), redshank (Tringa totanus) and curlew (Numenius arquata) were associated mainly with low potential disturbance and high plateaux (above 430 m). Passerines were associated more with the vegetation. Twite (Acanthis flavirostris) and ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus) shared strong affinities with Calluna vulgaris- and Pteridium aquilinum-dominated areas. (4) Merlin (Falco columbarius) preferred steep areas with Calluna and Pteridium. (5) Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) avoided blanket bog, but preferred the grass- and sedge-dominated margins of reservoirs, moorland with short vegetation, and areas frequented by gamekeepers. (6) Topography is a major factor associated with the breeding distribution of moorland birds. Management associated with rotational burning, light grazing by sheep and no persecution should sustain the moorland bird assemblage in northern England.