Historical links between breeding Northern Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe and European Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus warrens in southeast England

A former breeding population of Northern Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe in the downs of southern England is frequently mentioned in early modern sources from 1529 to 1772 CE. The south of England also seems to have been the first inland area in Britain where European Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus were successfully kept away from the coast. There is textual evidence that Northern Wheatears were exploiting newly established Rabbit warrens as nests and foraging sites.