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Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Emberizidae
BTO Codes:
Y. , YELHA
EURING No:
18570
Number in Britain:
792 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
RED
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
caliginosa (R), citrinella (RW) recorded in Britain (of 3 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
16 cm
Wingspan:
26 cm
Weight:
M/F: 31 g
Scientific name from:
old German: embritz =bunting
and L. citreus =of the citrus tree (i.e. yellow)
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Europe, w&c Asia, WINTERS: south to n Africa and east to e Asia
Habitat:
Grassland, farmland
Diet:
Grass seeds, esp cereal grain, summer, invertebrates
TitBit:
The rendition of the familiar song of the Yellowhammer as a "little bit of bread and no cheese" was made popular by Enid Blyton in her children's novels.
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
792 thousand territories
in 2000
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Arable Farmland
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
14 to 25 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(III),Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
21 x 16 mm
Egg Weight:
2.9 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
158
Clutch Size:
3 - 4 eggs
3.44 ± 0.70 (2 - 6) N = 1607
Incubation:
13 - 14 days
13.03 ± 1.40 (11 - 16) N = 1607
by the:
Female
Fledging:
13 - 16 days
14.29 ± 2.16 (10 - 17) N = 2185
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
29 May (2 May - 22 Jul)
Number of Broods:
2(3)
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
2695
Adult Survival:
0.536
Juvenile Survival:
0.529 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
11yr9m
(Germany: 13yr 0m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A (pulli B)
Wing Length
Adult:
85.7 ± 3.4
Range
80 - 91 mm, N =11446
Juvenile:
84.9 ± 3.1
80 - 90 mm, N =2332
Male:
87.4 ± 2.9
82 - 92 mm, N =6804
Female:
83.1 ± 2.3
79 - 87 mm, N =4388
Weight
Adult:
25.89 ± 1.72
Range
23.30 - 28.90 g , N =9489
Juvenile:
25.75 ± 1.78
23.10 - 28.80 g , N =1925
Male:
26.17 ± 1.69
23.60 - 29.00 g , N =5682
Female:
25.47 ± 1.67 .
23.00 - 28.40 g , N =3605
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Buidheag-bhealaidh
Welsh:
Melyr yr Eithin
Danish:
Gulspurv
Dutch:
Geelgors
Finnish:
Keltasirkku
French:
Bruant jaune
German:
Goldammer
Hungarian:
Citromsármány
Icelandic:
Gultittlingur
Irish:
Buíóg
Italian:
Zigolo giallo
Norwegian:
Gulspurv
Polish:
Trznadel zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Escrevedeira-amarela
Spanish:
Escribano cerillo
Swedish:
Gulsparv
Local Names: Yellow Bunting
For More Information...
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