Cirl bunting

    Emberiza cirlus

Castilian: Escribano soteño

Catalan: Gratapalles

Gallego: Escribenta común

Euskera: Hesi-berdantza

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Emberizidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

It is not threatened and the populations are quite stable.

Length / size: 15-16,5 cm / 22-25,5 cm

Identification: Smaller than the yellowhammer with a somewhat shorter tail and a similar colouration but with less yellow areas. Its rump is greyish and its face has well-defined lateral markings. The male's crown and breast are greyish, and during mating season, it has a black facial disc and throat. The female's and juvenile's plumage is more greyish and speckled.

Song: The sound of its call is a high-pitched and fine "zeet"; its other songs can be heard, such as "ree ree ree", with changes in pitch.

Diet: It primarily feeds on seeds from poaceae plants, which it finds on the ground. It also searches for invertebrates during breeding season in order to feed its chicks.

Reproduction: The breeding period begins in April. The nest is built by the female at the base of a bush, using twigs, grass and roots. She also is responsible for incubation, but both parents feed the chicks.

HABITAT

It is widely distributed in all types of forest environment, primarily in river meadows and thin forests. It avoids dry and high mountain areas.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is distributed throughout the Mediterranean and Balearic Island regions. It is also found in the north of the peninsula, but is rare in Asturias and Cantabria.

In Castile and León: The highest densities are located in León, northern Zamora and southern Burgos.

Movements and migrations: It is considered a sedentary species but migrates locally to lower latitudes during the wintering period.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 500000-800000 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: