Cirl Bunting

Emberiza cirlus

This charming songbird, with its vibrant yellow and green plumage, brightens up hedgerows and farmlands across southern Europe.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Cirl Bunting is a small, colourful bird with a distinctive appearance. Males have a bright yellow head with a black crown, eye stripe, and chin. Their back is chestnut-brown, contrasting with an olive-green rump and yellow underparts.

Females, with a brown-streaked body and a yellowish wing bar, aren't as colourful as males. Both sexes have a grey bill and pink legs. Juveniles resemble females but with heavier streaking.

Size

Length

15cm to 16.5cm

Wingspan

22cm to 25cm

Weight

20g to 25g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Yellow Green Brown

Secondary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Pink

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Buff

Secondary Colour (Female)

White

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Cirl Bunting can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Cirl Bunting is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Cirl Bunting is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Cirl Bunting is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Cirl Bunting is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Cirl Bunting can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Cirl Bunting is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Cirl Bunting is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Cirl Bunting is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Cirl Bunting is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Cirl Bunting is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Cirl Bunting is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Cirl Buntings are found in southern Europe, from Portugal to Greece, and parts of North Africa. They prefer warm, dry climates with open farmland, hedgerows, and scattered trees.

In the UK, their range is restricted to coastal areas of Devon and Cornwall, with some reintroduced populations in other southern counties. They are generally sedentary, with only short-distance movements in winter.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Cirl Bunting. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons