For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the U.K.
Yellowhammers
Scientific name: Emberiza citrinella
Size: Approx 17cm
Distribution: Found in most parts of the UK except some parts of the Scottish Highlands
Months seen: All year round
Habitat: Open fields and farmland (especially when surrounded by hedgerows), and also on heathland and areas with gorse bushes
Food: Seeds, and invertebrates in summer
Special features: Male yellowhammers are mostly bright yellow coloured with some brown streaking on the head, back and wings, and a rust coloured rump. The face has some thin black lines.
Females yellowhammers are similar but are more brown than yellow.
In flight both sexes have noticeable white outer tail feathers.
Yellowhammers will often perch on top of a bush to sing. The "sri-sri-sri" voice is said to sound like "a-little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese".
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