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Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Emberizidae
BTO Codes:
RB , REEBU
EURING No:
18770
Number in Britain:
185 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
RED
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
schoeniclus recorded in Britain (of 18 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
16 cm
Wingspan:
24 cm
Weight:
M/F: 21 g
Scientific name from:
old German: embritz =bunting
and Gr.: skhoiniklos =a reed + colere =to dwell
World Distribution:
Eurasia, n Africa
Habitat:
Reedbed, riverine scrub
Diet:
Seeds, also invertebrates in breeding season, among sedges, reed rushes etc
TitBit:
Over 50% of Reed Bunting chicks are not fathered by the pair male but are the result of an adulterous liaison, the highest recorded rate of any bird
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
176 to 193 thousand territories
in 2000
First Record:
15th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Reedbed
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
3.4 to 6.3 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:
20 x 15 mm
Egg Weight:
2.2 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
75
(more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size:
4 - 5 eggs
4.48 ± 0.71 (2 - 8) N = 1712
Incubation:
13 - 13 days
12.81 ± 0.82 (12 - 15) N = 1712
by the:
Female
Fledging:
12 - 14 days
12.49 ± 1.45 (10 - 15) N = 2206
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
12 May (25 Apr - 30 Jun)
Number of Broods:
1-2
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
6982
Adult Survival:
0.542
Juvenile Survival:
0.474 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
9yr11m
(The Netherlands: 11yr 3m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A
Wing Length
Adult:
77.8 ± 3.6
Range
72 - 83 mm, N =17032
Juvenile:
77.3 ± 6.7
72 - 82 mm, N =14164
Male:
80.1 ± 2.6
76 - 84 mm, N =9655
Female:
74.8 ± 2.1
72 - 78 mm, N =7258
Weight
Adult:
19.18 ± 1.79
Range
16.40 - 22.20 g , N =14380
Juvenile:
18.61 ± 1.69
16.00 - 21.50 g , N =11985
Male:
20.07 ± 1.48
17.80 - 22.60 g , N =8143
Female:
18.01 ± 1.43 .
16.00 - 20.50 g , N =6136
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Common Reed Bunting
Gaelic:
Gealag-dhubh-cheannach
Welsh:
Bras y Cyrs
Danish:
Rørspurv
Dutch:
Rietgors
Finnish:
Pajusirkku
French:
Bruant des roseaux
German:
Rohrammer
Hungarian:
Nádi sármány
Icelandic:
Seftittlingur
Irish:
Gealóg Ghiolcaí
Italian:
Migliarino di palude
Norwegian:
Sivspurv
Polish:
Potrzos zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Escrevedeira-dos-caniços
Spanish:
Escribano palustre
Swedish:
Sävsparv
Local Names: Reed / Fen Sparrow
For More Information...
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