Portal:Birds/Selected article/2007-30
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Scotland's wildlife is typical of the north west of Europe although several of the larger mammals such as the Brown Bear, Wolf, Eurasian Lynx, Beaver, Reindeer, Elk and Walrus were hunted to extinction in historic times. A population of Wild Cats remains. There are important populations of seals and internationally significant nesting grounds for a variety of seabirds such as Northern Gannets. The Golden Eagle is something of a national icon, and White-tailed Eagles and Ospreys are recent re-colonisations. The Scottish Crossbill is Britain's only endemic bird. The flora of the country is varied incorporating both deciduous and coniferous woodlands, and moorland and tundra species. Significant remnants of the native Scots Pine forest, can be found in places The Fortingall Yew may be 5,000 years old and is probably the oldest living thing in Europe.
