Yellowhammer: Difference between revisions
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:''This article is about the Eurasian bird. For other uses, see [[Yellowhammer (disambiguation)]].'' |
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{{Taxobox |
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| name = Yellowhammer |
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| status = LC |
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| status_system = IUCN3.1 |
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| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{IUCN|id=22720878 |title=''Emberiza citrinella'' |assessors=[[BirdLife International]] |version=2013.2 |year=2012 |accessdate=26 November 2013}}</ref> |
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| image = Emberiza citrinella -New Zealand -North Island-8.jpg |
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| image_width = 250px |
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| image_caption = {{audio|Emberiza citrinella.ogg|Song}} |
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| range_map =Map_yellow_hammer.png |
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| range_map_caption = '''Range map''' (countries where it has been recorded are marked entirely, even if only recorded in a small part) |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
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| classis = [[bird|Aves]] |
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| ordo = [[Passeriformes]] |
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| familia = [[Emberizidae]] |
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| genus = ''[[Emberiza]]'' |
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| species = '''''E. citrinella''''' |
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| binomial = ''Emberiza citrinella'' |
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| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758 |
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}} |
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[[File:Emberiza citrinella MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.216 Le Monetier05.jpg|thumb|'' Emberiza citrinella '' - [[MHNT]]]] |
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[[File:Goldammer (Emberiza citrinella) 2011-05-10 crop.jpg|thumb|A heavily streaked brown back.]] |
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[[File:Emberiza citrinella LC229.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Female]] |
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The '''Yellowhammer''' (''Emberiza citrinella'') is a [[passerine]] [[bird]] in the [[bunting (bird)|bunting]] family Emberizidae native to Europe and Asia, as well as being introduced to New Zealand. It is common in all sorts of open areas with some scrub or trees and form small flocks in winter. |
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==Taxonomy== |
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[[Emberizidae]] is a large family of around 300 seed-eating bird species, of which the majority are found in the Americas. The genus ''[[Emberiza]]'', is an Old World group of more than forty species,<ref name = hbwonlinefam>{{cite web| author = Hoyo, Josep del; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David A (eds.)| title=Emberizidae | work= Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive | url=http://www.hbw.com/family/buntings-and-new-world-sparrows-emberizidae | publisher= Lynx Edicions | accessdate = 13 April 2014}} {{subscription required}}</ref> The Yellowhammer is closely related to the [[Pine Bunting]] with which it forms a [[superspecies]]. They have formerly sometimes been considered as one species. The [[White-capped Bunting|White-capped]] and [[Cirl Bunting]]s are also near relatives of the species pair.<ref name = hbwonline>{{cite web| author = Hoyo, Josep del; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David A (eds.)| title=Yellowhammer | work= Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive | url=http://www.hbw.com/species/yellowhammer-emberiza-citrinella | publisher= Lynx Edicions | accessdate = 13 April 2014}} {{subscription required}}</ref> |
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The Yellowhammer was described by [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] in his ''Systema naturae'' in 1758 under its current scientific name.<ref name = Linn>Linnaeus (1758) [http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/10277#page/196/mode/1up p. 177.]</ref> ''Emberiza'' is derived from the German ''Embritz'', a bunting,<ref name= job145>Jobling (2010) p. 145.</ref> and ''citrinella'' is the Italian for a small yellow bird.<ref name= job110>Jobling (2010) p. 110.</ref> The English name is thought to be from the German word ''ammer'' meaning bunting, and was first recorded in 1553 as ''yelambre''.<ref name = oed>{{cite web| author = | title= Yellowhammer| work= Oxford English Dictionary| url= http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/231549?redirectedFrom=yellowhammer#eid | publisher=Oxford University Press | accessdate =13 April 2014 }}{{subscription needed}}</ref> |
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===Subspecies=== |
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There are three recognised subspecies |
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*''E. c. citrinella'' (Linnaeus, 1758) - The [[nominate subspecies]]. Southeast England and most of Europe to the northwestern corner of Russia and western Ukraine. |
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*''E. c. caliginosa'' (Clancey, 1940) - Ireland, [[Isle of Man]] and Britain except southeast England. |
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*''E. c. erythrogenys'' ([[Christian Ludwig Brehm|Brehm]], 1855) - Russia, central Ukraine and eastern [[Balkans]] east to [[Siberia]] and northwest Mongolia, also isolated populations to the east of the [[Black Sea]] and in the [[Caucasus]] |
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==Description== |
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The Yellowhammer is a robust 15.5–17 cm long bird, with a thick seed-eater's bill. The male has a bright yellow head, yellow underparts, and a heavily streaked brown back. The female is much duller, and more streaked below. The familiar, if somewhat monotonous, song of the cock is often described as ''A little bit of bread and no cheese'', although the song varies greatly in space.<ref>Yellowhammer Dialects project, http://www.yellowhammers.net/about#section4</ref> |
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{{listen |
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| filename = Emberiza citrinella 514.ogg |
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| title = Emberiza citrinella |
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| description = Yellowhammer song |
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| format = [[Ogg]] |
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}} |
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== Distribution and habitat == |
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The Yellowhammer breeds across [[Europe]] and much of [[Asia]]. In Europe and Asia most birds are resident, but some far northern birds [[bird migration|migrate]] south in winter. It was introduced to [[New Zealand]] in 1862 and is now common and widespread there. At the beginning of the 20th century counted as a serious pest and bounties were offered for his eggs.<ref>Te Ara, Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/introduced-land-birds/page-13</ref> |
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==Behaviour== |
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===Breeding=== |
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The nest is on the ground. 3-6 [[Egg (biology)|egg]]s are laid, which show the hair-like markings characteristic of those of buntings. |
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It is most commonly found on lowland arable and mixed farmland, probably due to the greater availability of seeds. It nests in hedges, patches of scrub, and ditches, especially if these have a wide grass margin next to them, and a cereal crop next to the margin. Hedges of up to two metres tall are preferred, and they will not nest until it is in full leaf, building the nest next to the hedge if it is built before this. In winter, the flocks feed at good seed sites, such as newly-sown fields and over-wintered stubbles. |
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===Feeding=== |
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Its natural diet consists of [[insect]]s when feeding young, and otherwise [[seed]]s. |
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Seeds of:{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}} |
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* Cereal, grasses (e.g. [[Poa|Meadow Grass]], [[Fescue]], [[Ryegrass]]), [[Common Nettle]], [[Rumex|dock]], knotgrass ''[[Polygonum aviculare]]'', Fat Hen ''[[Chenopodium album]]'', Common Chickweed ''[[Stellaria media]]'', Mouse-ear ''[[Cerastium]]'', [[Bramble]], [[Vetches]], [[Clover]], [[Forget-me-not]], [[Dandelion]], [[Knapweed]], Sow-thistle ''[[Cicerbita]]'', [[Yarrow]], Plantains ''[[Plantago]]'' |
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Invertebrates - mainly, but not exclusively - taken through the breeding season: |
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*[[Springtails]], [[mayfly|mayflies]], [[grasshopper]], [[cockroach]], [[earwigs]], bugs [[Hemiptera]], [[lacewings]], [[caddis flies]], [[sawflies]], [[spiders]], [[woodlice]], [[caterpillar]]s, [[Fly|flies]], [[beetle]]s, [[earthworm]]s, [[snail]]s |
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They are more able to feed on the slower-moving invertebrates. |
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==Status== |
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The [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] (IUCN) estimates the European population of the Yellowhammer to be from 54–93 million individuals, suggesting a global total of 73–186 million birds. Although the population appear to be declining, the decrease is not rapid enough to trigger the vulnerability criteria. The large numbers and huge breeding range of about 12.9 million sq km (5 million sq mi),<ref name=BirdLife>{{cite web|title = BirdLife International Species factsheet: Yellowhammer ''Emberiza citrinella '' |publisher =BirdLife International |accessdate = 24 April 2014 |url =http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=8930}}</ref> mean that this bunting is classified by the IUCN as being of [[Least Concern]].<ref name=IUCN/> |
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In parts of Europe it is in serious decline; in the UK the species fell by 54% between 1970 and 2003. In [[Ireland]] it is now rare except in the south-east. |
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==In culture== |
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As a conspicuous, vocal and formerly common country bird, the Yellowhammer has several references in culture. Yellowham Wood and Yellowham Hill, near [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]], both derive their names from the bird. [[Robert Burns|Robbie Burns']] poem "The Yellow Yellow Yorlin'" gets its title from a Scottish name for the bird, which is given an obvious sexual connotation: ''I met a pretty maid, an’ unto her I said,/ “I wad fain fin’ your yellow, yellow yorlin’.”''<ref name= Cocker>Cocker & Mabey (2005) pp. 460–461.</ref> [[John Clare|John Clare's]] "The Yellowhammer" and the "The Yellowhammer's Nest" are more factual descriptions of the bird and its behaviour.<ref name= Clare> Clare (1835) p. 79.</ref><ref name= Haughton> Haughton ''et al.'' (1994) p. 139.</ref> |
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<blockquote><poem> |
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In early spring, when winds blow chilly cold, |
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The yellowhammer, trailing grass, will come |
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To fix a place and choose an early home, |
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With yellow breast and head of solid gold. |
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</blockquote></poem> |
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[[Beethoven|Beethoven's]] student, [[Carl Czerny]], and biographer [[Anton Schindler]], both claimed that the composer got the idea for the first four notes of [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|his 5th symphony]] from the Yellowhammer's call, although it is more likely that the opening of the [[Piano Concerto No. 4 (Beethoven)|4th Piano Concerto]] was actually the work in question.<ref name=bowden>{{cite journal|url=http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/25434536?uid=3737536&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21102513963827|title=The theming magpie: the influence of birdsong on Beethoven motifs|last=Bowden|first=Sylvia|periodical=[[The Musical Times]] |volume=149 |issue=1903| pages=17–35 |year=2008| accessdate=8 July 2013}}</ref><ref name= Thayer> Thayer (1991) p. 437.</ref> [[Olivier Messiaen]] often used birdsong as an inspiration for his music, and the Yellowhammer features in ''[[Chronochromie]]'',<ref name= Dingle1> Dingle & Fallon (2013) pp. 155–158.</ref> ''Méditations sur le mystère de la Sainte Trinité '' and ''[[La fauvette des jardins]]''.<ref name= Bruhn> Bruhn (2008) p. 144.</ref><ref name= Dingle2 > Dingle & Fallon (2013) pp. 170–171.</ref> |
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{{listen |
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| filename = Beethoven concerto4 1.ogg |
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| title = Piano Concerto 4, 1st movement |
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| description = Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, 1st movement |
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| format = [[Ogg]] |
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}} |
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An old legend links the Yellowhammer to the Devil. Its tongue was supposed to bear a drop of his blood, and the intricate pattern on the eggs was said to carry a concealed, possibly evil, message. The unusual appearance of the eggs also led to "scribble lark", an old name for the bird.<ref name= Cocker/> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==Cited texts== |
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* {{cite book |last1= Bruhn |first1= Siglind |year=2008 |title= Messiaen's Interpretations of Holiness and Trinity: Echoes of Medieval Theology in the Oratorio, Organ Meditations, and Opera | publisher= Pendragon Press | volume= | location= Hillsdale, New York | url = | isbn = 978-1-57647-139-5}} |
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*{{cite book |last1= Clare |first1= John |year= 1835|title= The Rural Muse | publisher= Whittaker &Co | volume= | location= London | url = |isbn=}} |
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* {{cite book | last = Cocker | first = Mark | author1-link=Mark Cocker | coauthors= Mabey, Richard |title = Birds Britannica | year = 2005 |location = London | publisher = Chatto & Windus | isbn = 978-0-7011-6907-7}} |
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* {{cite book |last1= Dingle |first1= Christopher |last2= Fallon |first2= Robert |year= 2013|title= Messiaen Perspectives 2: Techniques, Influence and Reception | publisher= Ashgate | volume= | location= Farnham, Surrey | url = |isbn=978-1-4724-1518-9 }} |
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* {{cite book |last1= Haughton |first1= Hugh |last2= Phillips |first2= Adam |last3= Summerfield |first3 =Geoffrey (eds) |year= 1994|title= John Clare in Context | publisher= Cambridge University Press | volume= | location= Cambridge | url = |isbn=978-0521445474}} |
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* {{cite book | last= Jobling | first= James A | year= 2010| title= The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher = Christopher Helm | location = London | isbn = 978-1-4081-2501-4 }} |
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* {{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=Carl | author-link=Carl Linnaeus | title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata | publisher=Laurentii Salvii| location = Holmiae | year=1758 | language = Latin |url=http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/542#/summary}} |
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*{{cite book |last1= Thayer |first1= Alexander Wheelock|last2=Forbes|first2=Elliot (ed.) |year=1991 |title= Thayer's Life of Beethoven | publisher= Princeton University Press | volume=1 | location= Princeton, New Jersey | url = |isbn=9780691027173}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/444_YellowhammerEcitrinella.pdf Ageing and sexing (PDF; 2.9 MB) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze] |
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*[http://www.ornithos.de/Ornithos/Feather_Collection/Emberiza_citrinella/Emberiza_citrinella.htm Feathers of Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)] |
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*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/birds/Emberiza_citrinella/ images and movies of the yellowhammer ''(Emberiza citrinella)''] |
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*[http://www.bartleby.com/334/431.html The Yellow, Yellow Yorlin’] by Robert Burns |
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*[http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-yellowhammer/ The Yellowhammer] by John Clare |
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*[http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/179904 The Yellowhammer's Nest] by John Clare |
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{{Commons|Emberiza citrinella}} |
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[[Category:Emberiza]] |
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[[Category:Birds of Asia]] |
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[[Category:Birds of Europe]] |
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[[Category:Animals described in 1758]] |
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