6-6-2021 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)

The cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus, is a passerine bird of modest size, akin to the familiar yellowhammer. It measures approximately 15.5 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 22 to 25.5 cm. The species is characterized by a robust bill, well-suited for seed consumption.

Males are distinguished by their vivid yellow heads, contrasted by a black crown, eyestripe, and throat. A greenish breast band adorns their yellow underparts, while their backs are cloaked in heavy brown streaks. Females, however, bear a closer resemblance to the yellowhammer, with streaked grey-brown rumps and chestnut shoulders.

Cirl buntings thrive in open areas with a smattering of scrub or trees, showing a particular fondness for sun-drenched slopes.

This bird is native to southern Europe, the Mediterranean islands, and north Africa. It is a year-round resident in these regions, eschewing migration during the winter months. Notably, a population was introduced to New Zealand's South Island in the 19th century, where it persists.

Cirl buntings are sedentary creatures, often venturing a mere 250 meters from their nests to forage in the summer, and up to 2 kilometers in winter in search of stubble.

The male's song is a monotonous, rattling trill, reminiscent of the Arctic warbler or the terminal rattle of the lesser whitethroat.

14-10-2018 LA FONT EN CARROS, VALENCIA - CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)

The cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus, is a passerine bird of modest size, akin to the familiar yellowhammer. It measures approximately 15.5 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 22 to 25.5 cm. The species is characterized by a robust bill, well-suited for seed consumption.

Males are distinguished by their vivid yellow heads, contrasted by a black crown, eyestripe, and throat. A greenish breast band adorns their yellow underparts, while their backs are cloaked in heavy brown streaks. Females, however, bear a closer resemblance to the yellowhammer, with streaked grey-brown rumps and chestnut shoulders.

Cirl buntings thrive in open areas with a smattering of scrub or trees, showing a particular fondness for sun-drenched slopes.

This bird is native to southern Europe, the Mediterranean islands, and north Africa. It is a year-round resident in these regions, eschewing migration during the winter months. Notably, a population was introduced to New Zealand's South Island in the 19th century, where it persists.

Cirl buntings are sedentary creatures, often venturing a mere 250 meters from their nests to forage in the summer, and up to 2 kilometers in winter in search of stubble.

The male's song is a monotonous, rattling trill, reminiscent of the Arctic warbler or the terminal rattle of the lesser whitethroat.

Breeding commences at one year of age, with nests constructed at low levels within dense vegetation such as thick hedgerows and scrub. The breeding season spans from April to mid-September, with two to five eggs laid per brood. The eggs, marked with hair-like lines, are incubated by the female and hatch after 12-13 days. Both parents tend to the fledglings, which leave the nest after 11-13 days but continue to receive parental care for an additional two to three weeks.

During summer, cirl buntings feed their chicks with invertebrates such as grasshoppers and crickets. In winter, their diet shifts to small seeds from stubbles, fallow land, and grain or hay provided for livestock. They typically feed in flocks during the colder months.

The cirl bunting is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, changes in agricultural practices have led to a decline in populations at the northern edge of their range, particularly in England, where they are now largely confined to south Devon. Conservation efforts, including the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and environmental stewardship by Natural England, aim to preserve and enhance their habitats.

25-2-2018 RAFELCOFER, VALENCIA - CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)

The cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus, is a passerine bird of modest size, akin to the familiar yellowhammer. It measures approximately 15.5 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 22 to 25.5 cm. The species is characterized by a robust bill, well-suited for seed consumption.

Males are distinguished by their vivid yellow heads, contrasted by a black crown, eyestripe, and throat. A greenish breast band adorns their yellow underparts, while their backs are cloaked in heavy brown streaks. Females, however, bear a closer resemblance to the yellowhammer, with streaked grey-brown rumps and chestnut shoulders.

Cirl buntings thrive in open areas with a smattering of scrub or trees, showing a particular fondness for sun-drenched slopes.

This bird is native to southern Europe, the Mediterranean islands, and north Africa. It is a year-round resident in these regions, eschewing migration during the winter months. Notably, a population was introduced to New Zealand's South Island in the 19th century, where it persists.

Cirl buntings are sedentary creatures, often venturing a mere 250 meters from their nests to forage in the summer, and up to 2 kilometers in winter in search of stubble.

The male's song is a monotonous, rattling trill, reminiscent of the Arctic warbler or the terminal rattle of the lesser whitethroat.

Breeding commences at one year of age, with nests constructed at low levels within dense vegetation such as thick hedgerows and scrub. The breeding season spans from April to mid-September, with two to five eggs laid per brood. The eggs, marked with hair-like lines, are incubated by the female and hatch after 12-13 days. Both parents tend to the fledglings, which leave the nest after 11-13 days but continue to receive parental care for an additional two to three weeks.

During summer, cirl buntings feed their chicks with invertebrates such as grasshoppers and crickets. In winter, their diet shifts to small seeds from stubbles, fallow land, and grain or hay provided for livestock. They typically feed in flocks during the colder months.

The cirl bunting is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, changes in agricultural practices have led to a decline in populations at the northern edge of their range, particularly in England, where they are now largely confined to south Devon. Conservation efforts, including the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and environmental stewardship by Natural England, aim to preserve and enhance their habitats.

17-4-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)

The cirl bunting ( SURL), Emberiza cirlus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae.

It breeds across southern Europe, on the Mediterranean islands and in north Africa. It is a resident of these warmer areas, and does not migrate in winter. It is common in all sorts of open areas with some scrub or trees, but has a preference for sunny slopes. In the 19th century it has been introduced to New Zealand and the persistent population remains in the South Island.

Changes in agricultural practice have affected this species very adversely at the northern fringes of its range, and in England, where it once occurred over much of the south of the country, it is now restricted to south Devon. The cirl bunting is the mascot on the signs for the village of Stokeinteignhead in Devon.

The cirl bunting is like a small yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella ), and is around 15.5 cm (6.1 in) in length with a wing-span 22–25.5 cm (8.7–10.0 in). It has a thick seed-eater's bill. The male has a bright yellow head, with a black crown, eyestripe and throat, and a greenish breast band across its otherwise yellow underparts, and a heavily streaked brown back. The female is much more like the yellowhammer, but has a streaked grey-brown rump and chestnut shoulders.

Cirl buntings first breed when they are one year of age. The nest is at low level, within dense cover such as that provided by thick hedgerows and scrub. The ideal scrub is said to be blackthorn, hawthorn, bramble and gorse. The breeding season runs from April until mid-September, usually having two broods but occasionally three. Two to five eggs are laid, which show the hair-like markings characteristic of buntings. They are incubated only by the female and hatch 12–13 days after the last egg is laid. The young are cared for and fed by both parents. They nestlings fledge after 11–13 days but continue to be fed by their parents for a further two or three weeks.

In the summer their natural food consists of invertebrates for example grasshoppers and crickets to feed their chicks. In the winter they feed on small seeds from over-wintered stubbles, fallow land, set-aside, and the over-winter feeding of stock with grain or hay. They tend to feed in flocks during the winter.

13-4-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus)

The cirl bunting ( SURL), Emberiza cirlus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae.

It breeds across southern Europe, on the Mediterranean islands and in north Africa. It is a resident of these warmer areas, and does not migrate in winter. It is common in all sorts of open areas with some scrub or trees, but has a preference for sunny slopes. In the 19th century it has been introduced to New Zealand and the persistent population remains in the South Island.

Changes in agricultural practice have affected this species very adversely at the northern fringes of its range, and in England, where it once occurred over much of the south of the country, it is now restricted to south Devon. The cirl bunting is the mascot on the signs for the village of Stokeinteignhead in Devon.

The cirl bunting is like a small yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella ), and is around 15.5 cm (6.1 in) in length with a wing-span 22–25.5 cm (8.7–10.0 in). It has a thick seed-eater's bill. The male has a bright yellow head, with a black crown, eyestripe and throat, and a greenish breast band across its otherwise yellow underparts, and a heavily streaked brown back. The female is much more like the yellowhammer, but has a streaked grey-brown rump and chestnut shoulders.

The monotonous song of the cock is rattling trill, like Arctic warbler or the terminal rattle of lesser whitethroat.

The ideal farmland habitat is a mixture of grass and arable fields, divided by thick hedgerows with pockets of dense scrub. They can tolerate a certain degree of urbanisation, and are found in green spaces in towns and cities, even Rome.

They are sedentary in nature and will often travel only 250 metres (820 ft) from their nests to forage in summer, and up to 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) in winter to find stubble.

In the summer their natural food consists of invertebrates for example grasshoppers and crickets to feed their chicks. In the winter they feed on small seeds from over-wintered stubbles, fallow land, set-aside, and the over-winter feeding of stock with grain or hay. They tend to feed in flocks during the winter.