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The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Male reed bunting singing from perch in hawthorn bush Backlit reeds at Lee Valley Female reed bunting
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Reed bunting

Red conservation status

Sound files

Listen

Video files

2 videos

Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player.

Latin name

Emberiza schoeniclus

Family

Buntings (Emberizidae)

Overview

Sparrow-sized but slim and with a long, deeply notched tail, the male has a black head, white collar and a drooping moustache. Females and winter males have a streaked head. In flight the tail looks black with broad, white edges. This farmland and wetland bird suffered a serious population decline making it a Red List species.

Where to see them

Typically found in wet vegetation but has recently spread into farmland and, in winter, into gardens. When singing the male usually perched on top of a bush, or reed.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Seeds and insects

Estimated numbers

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
-192,000-211,000 territories--

* 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

Key

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

Find out more

  • Videos

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)

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2 illustrations

12

Illustrations
Reed bunting male breeding plumage

Male breeding plumage

Reed bunting female

Female

Similar birds

Yellowhammers (illustration)

Yellowhammer

Lapland buntings (illustration)

Lapland bunting

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About the RSPB

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© 2008 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Charity registered in England and Wales no 207076, in Scotland no SC037654
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Last published: 14/06/2008 01:55:50
Show/hide picture credits
Male reed bunting singing from perch in hawthorn bush - Michael W Richards (rspb-images.com, Ref: 2855040_00041_005)
Backlit reeds at Lee Valley - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 2000_1999_009)
Female reed bunting - Steve Round
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)