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Latin name

Emberiza cirlus

Family

Buntings (Emberizidae)

Overview

A charming relative of the yellowhammer that is at the limit of its European range in the UK. A lowland farmland bird, it has very specific requirements for habitat and climate, and agricultural changes have resulted in a severe population decline in the UK, making it a Red List species.

Where to see them

Confined to south-west England. Best looked for in fields and hedges of south Devon, near to the coast.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Insects and seeds

Estimated numbers

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

In the UK

SW England

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Find out more

• Watching cirl buntings
• Where to watch cirl buntings

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)

2 illustrations 12

Male

Female

Similar birds

Yellowhammer

Reed bunting