About the Cirl Bunting
The cirl bunting is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The cirl bunting is like a small yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), and is around 15.5 cm (6.1 in) in length with a wing-span 22–25.5 cm (8.7–10.0 in). It has a thick seed-eater's bill. The male has a bright yellow head, with a black crown, eyestripe and throat, and a greenish breast band across its otherwise yellow underparts, and a heavily streaked brown back. The female is much more like the yellowhammer, but has a streaked grey-brown rump and chestnut shoulders. The monotonous song of the male is a rattling trill, like the Arctic warbler or the terminal rattle of the lesser whitethroat.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Cirl Bunting sounds like
Where the Cirl Bunting lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Belgium, Netherlands, Guernsey, San Marino, Liechtenstein.
When to see the Cirl Bunting
Peak activity in May · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Rock BuntingEmberiza ciaThis bird is 16 cm in length.
Ortolan BuntingEmberiza hortulanaThe ortolan bunting is 16–17 centimetres (6+1⁄4–6+3⁄4 inches) in length and has a wing-span of 23–29 cm (9–11+1⁄2 in).
Golden-breasted BuntingEmberiza flaviventrisThe golden-breasted bunting is 15–16 cm long.
Side by side: Cirl Bunting vs Yellowhammer · Cirl Bunting vs Common Reed Bunting · Cirl Bunting vs Corn Bunting · Cirl Bunting vs Rock Bunting · Cirl Bunting vs Ortolan Bunting
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