All species
resident
Amber-listedBuntings
Reed Bunting
A slim bunting of wetlands and reedbeds. In spring the male shows a striking black head with a white collar; females are streaky brown with a pale eyestripe.
Emberiza schoeniclus
Wetlands Reedbeds Streams Lakes Farmland
Size
13-14.5 cm
Wingspan
19-24 cm
Weight
15-24 g
Lifespan
2-3 years
Diet
Seeds, insects and small invertebrates; often visits garden feeders in winter.
Song & Call
A simple, repetitive 'tsip-tsip-tsip' followed by a short, rattling trill.
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Speed
Visualizer
Recording by Tommy Andriollo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
How to identify
- Black head and white collar on males
- Streaked brown back
- Pale eye-stripe
- Slender bunting bill
Conservation
Amber-listed
Amber-listed; thrives in healthy reedbeds and wet farmland ditches.


