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Photo by Andy Bright
Location: Morston Downs, Norfolk, England

Emberiza citrinella

[edit] Identification

15.5-17cm. Fairly big and long-tailed with unmarked red-brown rump and elements of yellow in plumage. Mantle/back olive-brown, heavily streaked black. Bill rather small, lower mandible light blue-grey. Much white on tail-corners, often seen in flight, when looks longer-tailed than e.g. Reed Bunting.

Summer Male: Unmistakable, having almost entirely yellow head with just a few dark markings on crown- and head-sides. Saturated yellow below, with much olive-green and red-brown on breast and with flanks streaked red-brown

Summer Female: Greyish-green, streaked crown, at times with a small yellow spot; grey-green head-side with no yellow. Underparts paler yellow, with greyish-black streaking on breast and flanks.

Autumn: often told by intimation of deep yellow on head and underparts, and by olive-green and red-brown colour on breast. rather like summer

1st-winter often has almost wholly brown and streaked head and buff-white underparts with only faint yellow tinge; note: yellow on underparts can be hard to spot in field.

[edit] Distribution

Europe and Asia.

Predominantly resident, but many Scandinavian birds migrate Oct-mid Nov to North Sea countries, returning Mar/Apr.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Breeds commonly in farmland, in bushy areas, woodland edge and wooded pasture, in glades and clearings, on heaths and coastal meadows.

[edit] Behaviour

Wary without being really shy, usually flushes early; often gains height, perches high in tree or drops into thick bushes.

[edit] Flight

Flight in long undulations and slightly jerky.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects when feeding young, and otherwise seeds.

[edit] Breeding

The cup shaped nest, built by the female, from grass and moss, and lined with hair and grass. It is usually on the ground amidst hedgerows, grasses, or shrubs. 3-6 smooth, glossy and white with few purplish markings eggs are laid, and are incubated by the female. Both parents feed the young.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] External Links