Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinella
The bird's distinctive song is famously transcribed as 'a little bit of bread and no cheese' and reportedly inspired the rhythm of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
- Scientific name
- Emberiza citrinella
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Emberizidae › Emberiza
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Farmland, hedgerows, heathland, and scrubby margins.
- Diet
- Primarily seeds (cereal grains, grasses) and insects during the breeding season.
- Range
- Europe, Western Asia, New Zealand, Australia
- Size
- 16 cm long, wingspan up to 29 cm, weight 25-30g.
- Lifespan
- 3-5 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Agricultural intensification, loss of nesting hedgerows, and reduction in winter stubble fields.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Best observed with binoculars from a distance of 10+ meters to avoid disturbing nesting sites. If an injured bird is found, place it in a dark, ventilated box and contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
The yellowhammer ( Emberiza citrinella ) is a passerine bird in the bunting family that is native to Eurasia and introduced to New Zealand, Australia, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa. Most European birds remain in the breeding range year-round, but the eastern subspecies is partially migratory, with much of the population wintering further south. The male yellowhammer has a bright yellow head, streaked brown back, chestnut rump and yellow underparts. Other plumages are duller versions of the...
Photo: Diego González Dopico, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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