Environment watchdogs have launched a probe into whether the Scottish Government is doing enough to protect the habitats of Scotland’s rare, threatened and vulnerable birds.

Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) will carry out an investigation to assess if there has been a failure to comply with legal duties regarding the classification of the Special Protection Area (SPA) network in Scotland.

SPAs are areas that are chosen to protect rare or vulnerable bird species. There are currently 162 SPAs in Scotland which protect the homes of a wide range of species including the Golden Eagle and Red Kite.