Black grouse: Numbers of the endangered bird on the rise in Scotland

Rewilding efforts in part of the Scottish Highlands have led to the number of an “amazing species” of endangered bird reaching their highest levels for 17 years, according to conservationists.

Black grouse populations have been declining in the UK over recent decades due to threats such as habitat loss and intensive land management.

They are seen as an important species to show how healthy an ecosystem is.

The distinctive black, white and red birds are now on the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) red list, showing they are one of the most endangered species.

However, a study in the Affric Highlands near Inverness has found numbers are recovering well at sites where nature recovery, including restoration of native woods, peatlands and wetlands, is being carried out on a large scale.