Nature Photographers Ltd

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella L 15-17cm. Colourful bunting with diagnostic song. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly yellow head and underparts, and reddish brown back and wings. Note faint dark lines on head, chestnut flush to breast and streaking on flanks; rump is reddish brown and bill is greyish. In winter, similar but duller and more streaked. Adult female has streaked greenish grey head and breast, streaked pale yellow underparts and brown back; note reddish brown rump. Juvenile is similar to adult female but more streaked. Voice Has a rasping call. Song is rendered ‘a little bit of bread and no cheese’. Status Fairly common resident of farmland and open country with scrub and hedges. Winter flocks often feed on arable fields.