©Luke Massey/2020VISION
Corn bunting
Scientific name: Emberiza calandra
Like many of our farmland birds, the corn bunting has declined in number in recent years. Spot this streaky brown, thick-billed bird singing from a wire or post - it sounds just like a set of jangling keys!
Species information
Category
Statistics
Length: 18cmWingspan: 29cm
Weight: 41-53g
Average lifespan: 2-3 years
Conservation status
Classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021). Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
When to see
January to DecemberAbout
The corn bunting is a sparrow-sized, streaky brown bird of hedgerows and farmland that feeds on seeds and invertebrates. In the winter, it will join mixed flocks of buntings, finches and sparrows to feed on seeds on farmland. Male corn buntings are often seen perched on top of bushes singing loudly - a song that sounds just like a jangling set of keys. Male corn buntings may mate with up to 18 different females in a season. The female builds her grass nest in rough grassy margins or arable crops and incubates the eggs by herself. The male may help to feed the chicks once they have hatched.How to identify
The corn bunting is a big, pale, streaky brown bunting. It is most similar to the skylark, but with a thicker bill and no crest. It is larger than other buntings, but this group can be difficult to tell apart.Distribution
Widespread in the lowlands of England and Scotland. Absent from Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.Habitats
Did you know?
The corn bunting is not a migratory bird in the UK; it is so sedentary, in fact, that males who are just 30km apart sing with different 'dialects'.
Bob Coyle
Our gardens are vital for wildlife
The UK's gardens provide more space for nature than all the National Nature Reserves put together.