Detecting biodiversity change and identifying its causes is challenging because biodiversity is multifaceted and temporal data often contain bias. Here, we model temporal change in species' abundance and biomass by using extensive data describing the population sizes and trends of native breeding birds in the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU). In addition, we explore how species' population trends vary with species' traits. We demonstrate significant change in the bird assemblages of the UK and EU, with substantial reductions in overall bird abundance and losses concentrated in a relatively small number of abundant and smaller sized species. By contrast, rarer and larger birds had generally fared better. Simultaneously, overall avian biomass had increased very slightly in the UK and was stable in the EU, indicating a change in community structure. Abundance trends across species were positively correlated with species' body mass and with trends in climate suitability, and varied with species' abundance, migration strategy and niche associations linked to diet. Our work highlights how changes in biodiversity cannot be captured easily by a single number; care is required when measuring and interpreting biodiversity change given that different metrics can provide very different insights. This article is part of the theme issue 'Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions'.

BirdLife International Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB2 3QZ UK

British Trust for Ornithology The Nunnery Thetford Norfolk IP24 2PU UK

Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment University College London London WC1E 6BT UK

Chief Scientist Directorate Natural England Peterborough PE2 8YY UK

Conservation Ecology Group Department of Biosciences Durham University South Road Durham County Durham DH1 3LE UK

Czech Society for Ornithology 150 00 Prague 5 Czech Republic

Rare Breeding Bird Panel Alnwick NE66 1EL UK

RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Cambridge CB2 3QZ UK

RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Sandy Befordshire SG19 2DL UK

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Expanding protected area coverage for migratory birds could improve long-term population trends

Farmland practices are driving bird population decline across Europe

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figshare
10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6619727