Putting wind turbines on agricultural land does not have a negative impact on threatened farmland birds such as skylarks, a study said.
Scientists examining fears that species of farmland bird - many of which are already in decline - could be driven from their habitat by wind farms said there was no evidence they were affected.
The researchers said wind farms planned for lowland agricultural areas of the UK to meet renewable energy targets would not be in conflict with agri-environment schemes which aim to boost wildlife on farmland.
The study, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, recorded 3,000 birds from 33 different species within 750 metres of turbines at two wind farms in the East Anglian fens.
The research found the number of birds was not affected by proximity to the turbines, which were in operation during the survey.
The researchers from Newcastle University said there were concerns wind turbines could disturb birds because of the increased noise, which could reduce the quality of their habitat or put them at higher risk of predation.
It is also possible birds might avoid flying near turbines to reduce the risk of collision, creating "no-fly zones" around them, while species that prefer open landscapes would be put off by the structures.
But the scientists found the 2MW, 100-metre high turbines, had no impact on the distribution of seed-eating birds, members of the crow family, game birds or skylarks.
The only birds whose distribution was affected in the vicinity were common pheasants, the largest and least manoeuvrable of the species recorded.
Dr Whittingham said: "This is the first evidence suggesting the present and future location of large numbers of wind turbines on European farmland is unlikely to have detrimental effects on farmland birds. This should be welcome news for nature conservationists, wind energy companies and policy makers."