Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)
Species
Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra). Taken at Blewbury Down, Oxon., on December 22nd 2018.
Taken at Blewbury Down, Oxon., on December 22nd 2018.
(1/640th sec at f8. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

L: 16 - 19cm

Unlike most buntings, the Corn Bunting sexes are similar, although the male is larger. They are streaked grey-brown above, and have whitish underparts.

Corn Buntings are found mainly in England and the east coast of Scotland.

The Corn Bunting is a bird of open country with trees, such as farmland and weedy wasteland. It has declined greatly in northwest Europe due to intensive agricultural practices depriving it of its food supply of weed seeds and insects, the latter especially when feeding young.

They are often seen perched prominently on a hedge, post or wire, singing a jangling song. Birds form flocks in the winter.

The Corn Bunting has Red status on the British list due to its dramatic population decline caused by changes in farming practices. There are about 11000 breeding territories in the UK.

Sightings

11-Jun-2023 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (1)
04-Jun-2023 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (h)
21-May-2023 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (2)
13-May-2023 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (1)

27-Aug-2022 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (2)
10-Jul-2022 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (2)
12-Jun-2022 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (2)
12-Jun-2022 : Crog Hill, Oxon (1)
28-May-2022 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (5)
29-Apr-2022 : Aston, Oxon (2+)
08-Feb-2022 : Bury Down, Berks (6)

21-Sep-2021 : Lark Hill, Oxon (2)
02-Sep-2021 : Compton Down, Berks (2)
05-Jun-2021 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (4)
20-Apr-2021 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (1)
01-Mar-2021 : East Hendred Down, Oxon (6)

23-Apr-2020 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (1)
19-Jan-2020 : Bury Down, Berks (c.20)
18-Jan-2020 : Blewbury Downs, Oxon (60+)

19-May-2019 : Balnarad, North Uist (1)
19-May-2019 : Aird an Runair, North Uist (1)
27-Feb-2019 : East Hendred Down, Oxon (20+)
28-Jan-2019 : Bury Down, Berks (2)

22-Dec-2018 : Blewbury Downs, Oxon (6)
16-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain
15-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain
13-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain
12-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain
13-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (2)

08-Jul-2017 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (1)
07-Jun-2017 : Irinovac, Croatia
06-Jun-2017 : Irinovac, Croatia
15-Apr-2017 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (1)

05-Nov-2016 : Playa de Los Lances, Spain (3+)
03-Nov-2016 : Embalse de Montejaque, Spain (1+)
03-Apr-2016 : Churn, Oxon (2)

23-Jul-2015 : Melnik, Bulgaria
21-Jul-2015 : Melnik, Bulgaria
07-Jun-2015 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (6)

21-Jun-2014 : Zhelezhari, Bulgaria
19-Jun-2014 : Susam Reservoir, Bulgaria
18-Jun-2014 : nr Mirkovo, Bulgaria
13-Apr-2014 : Churn, Oxon (3+)

01-Jun-2013 : Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts (2)
26-Jan-2013 : Cholsey Marsh, Oxon (25+)

21-Apr-2012 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (2)

13-Sep-2010 : La Janda, Spain
29-Jun-2010 : Vienne, France

01-May-2007 : Cagliari, Sardinia

19-Jul-2005 : Bury Down, Berks