Examines models of the distribution of birds between adjacent habitats or patches, relating these to the conservation and management of avian populations. Birds in woodland/hedgerow, in wildfowl refuges, and on set-aside land/field margins are used as examples of the problem of the conservation of populations in adjacent habitats. Models of habitat distribution are reviewed, paying particular attention to the nature of and evidence for ideal free distribution (all individuals being able to select the most suitable habitat available at the time of settling), despotic and related distributions (eg early settlers excluding later ones from preferred habitat), and mixed ideal free-despotic distributions. The significance of individual decisions and of learning is noted. The distribution of prey mortality is examined, with consideration of scale and the spatial correlation between predators and prey. Questions pertaining to management are discussed: the effect of habitat loss on a bird population; estimating the value of habitats; and the best mixture of habitats and scale for conservation.