SCOTLAND’S wildlife watchdog has been accused of “reaching for the shotgun” by needlessly allowing endangered birds to be killed rather than controlled in other ways.

Figures show Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) granted more than 500 licences for bird culls last year, with some involving species on the red list – indicating the highest level of conservation concern.

But the environmental body insisted many of the licences related to “imminent threats to air safety” at airports, and argued it was confident they “do not affect the conservation status of any of our native species”.

Statistics released under Freedom of Information laws show permits were granted to kill birds such as starlings, house sparrows and grey partridges, which are all considered to have the highest conservation priority.

Reasons given included protecting public health or air safety. Other licences were pushed through to prevent geese species from damaging crops.

Some limited the number of birds that could be culled while others allowed for indefinite numbers to be slaughtered.

A spokeswoman for RSPB Scotland said it had become “more concerned recently that some licenses have been issued on the basis of less than adequate scientific evidence”.

She added: “The law may permit killing under licence but it also very clearly states that this should only happen as a last resort after all other ways of mitigating an issue are exhausted. Some of the licences that permit the killing of unlimited numbers do seem alarming. But if these apply only to small areas of land, that in itself will be a limiting factor."

It comes after a row broke out earlier this year over controversial plans to push forward with an “experimental” cull of hundreds of ravens in Perthshire.

Scottish Labour, which obtained the latest figures, has now called for a review of bird culls in Scotland.

The party’s environment spokeswoman Claudia Beamish said: "These are deeply worrying figures.

"Scotland is rightly renowned internationally for the quality and variety of its wildlife, including many rare and endangered birds.

"Sadly it is often necessary for bird populations to be controlled, but these figures show licences are being granted to kill many endangered species.

"That cannot be right. Rather than reaching for the shotgun first, organisations such as Scottish Natural Heritage should be exhausting all other options before allowing culls."

A Scottish Natural Heritage spokeswoman said: “The vast majority of cases with no stated limit on bird control relate to imminent threats to air safety. For example, where birds could strike a plane in take off or landing, endangering lives. It is important to note these are not culls, but necessary acts to address real issues where there is no other workable solution.

“Scottish Natural Heritage works to strike a balance between the conservation and protection of species and other public interests, including minimising damage to agriculture; and health and safety. We are confident that all activities carried out under these licences do not affect the conservation status of any of our native species.”