Bird Guide

Cirl Bunting vs Common Reed Bunting

Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus)

Cirl Bunting

Emberiza cirlus

Small26 gShrubland

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0
Photo: unknown · Public domain
Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Common Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

Small18 gWetland

The common reed bunting is a medium-sized bird, 13.5–15.5 cm (5.3–6.1 in) long and weighing 10–28 g, with a small but powerful seed-eating bill. The male has a black head and throat, white neck collar and underparts, and a heavily barred brown back. The female is much duller, with a streaked brown head, and more barring underneath. The male's song is a repetitive srip.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Kevin Guille · CC0
Photo: cazalegg · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

And 4 more countries.

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Cirl Bunting and Common Reed Bunting.