Photo: Matti Virtala / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinella
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) is a member of the Emberizidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 29.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Emberizidae Buntings
- Genus Emberiza
- Species citrinella
Where it lives
Subarctic to southern temperate montane western, central Palearctic edge and openings: British Isles, northern Scandinavia to northern Iberian Pen., east through subarctic Russia to central Siberia, south through montane northern Mediterranean region, Balkans and Caucasus, east through northern Kazakhstan and far north-central Mongolia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 29.7 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Emberizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Yellowhammer is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Yellowhammer is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) belongs to the Emberizidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL subarctic to s temperate montane w, c Palearctic edge and openings: British Isles, n Scandinavia to n Iberian Pen., e through subarctic Russia to c Siberia, s through montane n Mediterranean region, Balkans and Caucasus, e through n Kazakhstan and far nc Mongolia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 29.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.8 cm and a tail of around 7.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 12.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Yellowhammer?
The Yellowhammer is a small bird that weighs around 29.7 g.
Where does the Yellowhammer live?
The Yellowhammer is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL subarctic to s temperate montane w, c Palearctic edge and openings: British Isles, n Scandinavia to n Iberian Pen., e through subarctic Russia to c Siberia, s through montane n Mediterranean region, Balkans and Caucasus, e through n Kazakhstan and far nc Mongolia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Yellowhammer belong to?
The Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) belongs to the Emberizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Yellowhammer eat?
The Yellowhammer is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Yellowhammer migrate?
The Yellowhammer is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Yellowhammer endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Yellowhammer make?
1 real field recording of the Yellowhammer — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Yellowhammer's range?
The Yellowhammer has a mapped global range of about 12.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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