male	male female European distribution adult male perched

Identification

Male Cirl Buntings have diagnostic black and yellow faces. The females show hints of this same black and yellow pattern including obvious broad dark lines behind and below the eye. If you are in doubt about whether you have a Cirl Bunting or a Yellowhammer, check the rump colour - grey brown on a Cirl Bunting, almost red on a Yellowhammer. Also, Cirl Buntings have a small grey shoulder patch and richer chestnut on the upperparts.

Habitat

Breeds in coastal scrub and areas with pasture and timbered hedges. Winters near coast in stubble.

Migration

A largely sedentary bird.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Cirl Bunting is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Prawle Pt, Devon 22/08/2010	Prawle Pt, Devon 22/08/2010	Berry Head, Devon 27/07/2010	Berry Head, Devon 27/07/2010	undisc. site, Devon 22/06/2010
undisc. site, Devon 22/06/2010	undisc. site, Devon 30/05/2010	undisc. site, Devon 10/05/2010	undisc. site, Devon 10/05/2010	undisc. site, Devon 10/05/2010

 View all pictures of Cirl Bunting

Cirl Bunting breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Macedonia
Portugal
Romania
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey

http://www.avibirds.com/euhtml/Cirl_Bunting.html   Avibirds: Cirl Bunting	Edit this link
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http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob18580.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Cirl Bunting	Edit this link
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	Where to watch Cirl Buntings	Monday 29th January 2007
	One of our rarest breeding birds, Cirl Buntings are restricted to south Devon. Find out where, and when, to see this attractive bunting.   read on
	Rare farmland bird makes comeback: Cirl Buntings re-introduced to Cornwall through 'first of its kind' project	Tuesday 3rd October 2006
	A rare and threatened bird that currently only breeds in one county is spreading its wings in a new location thanks to a pioneering project aimed at safeguarding the future of the species in Britain.   read on
	Back from the Brink. No 5: Cirl Bunting	Wednesday 15th February 2006
	The fifth of our articles based on a RSPB booklet charting the recovery of some of the UK's rarest breeding birds. Here we look at our rarest resident farmland bird, the Cirl Bunting.   read on

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