Cirl Bunting

The cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus, is a passerine bird of modest size, akin to the familiar yellowhammer. It measures approximately 15.5 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 22 to 25.5 cm. The species is characterized by a robust bill, well-suited for seed consumption.

Identification Tips

Males are distinguished by their vivid yellow heads, contrasted by a black crown, eyestripe, and throat. A greenish breast band adorns their yellow underparts, while their backs are cloaked in heavy brown streaks. Females, however, bear a closer resemblance to the yellowhammer, with streaked grey-brown rumps and chestnut shoulders.

Habitat

Cirl buntings thrive in open areas with a smattering of scrub or trees, showing a particular fondness for sun-drenched slopes.

Distribution

This bird is native to southern Europe, the Mediterranean islands, and north Africa. It is a year-round resident in these regions, eschewing migration during the winter months. Notably, a population was introduced to New Zealand's South Island in the 19th century, where it persists.

Behaviour

Cirl buntings are sedentary creatures, often venturing a mere 250 meters from their nests to forage in the summer, and up to 2 kilometers in winter in search of stubble.

Song & Calls

The male's song is a monotonous, rattling trill, reminiscent of the Arctic warbler or the terminal rattle of the lesser whitethroat.

Breeding

Breeding commences at one year of age, with nests constructed at low levels within dense vegetation such as thick hedgerows and scrub. The breeding season spans from April to mid-September, with two to five eggs laid per brood. The eggs, marked with hair-like lines, are incubated by the female and hatch after 12-13 days. Both parents tend to the fledglings, which leave the nest after 11-13 days but continue to receive parental care for an additional two to three weeks.

Diet and Feeding

During summer, cirl buntings feed their chicks with invertebrates such as grasshoppers and crickets. In winter, their diet shifts to small seeds from stubbles, fallow land, and grain or hay provided for livestock. They typically feed in flocks during the colder months.

Conservation status

The cirl bunting is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, changes in agricultural practices have led to a decline in populations at the northern edge of their range, particularly in England, where they are now largely confined to south Devon. Conservation efforts, including the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and environmental stewardship by Natural England, aim to preserve and enhance their habitats.