We don't have many species of Buntings locally. The Snow Bunting is a specialist breeder in the mountains, wintering either on the coast or in the foothills of our mountains. The Yellowhammer is principally a farmland bird as is the Corn Bunting, the so-called Fat Bird of the Barley. The Reed Bunting (pictured), despite its name, is not confined to reeds - we often find it in scrub. In winter both sexes are rather sparrow-like but come Spring the male undergoes a transformation and dons the finery of a black head with while scarf. He sings his little scratchy song, often from a prominent perch, where he hopes to attract a female. |