Yellowhammer

The male Yellowhammer can be recognized by his bright yellow head with dark stripes. The female is less bright yellow colored on her head and body and has more brown stripes. Both sexes have a typical chestnut rump and white outer tail feathers. Their backs are predominantly brown, striped with black. The Yellowhammer is 16 cm long, slightly larger than a sparrow. Its wingspan is 23 to 29 cm.

What does a Yellowhammer sound like? He makes a sound similar to 'tsik' and 'twitik'. His singing sounds more like: 'titititi tèèèh'.

Yellowhammers build their nests on the ground, often among tall herbs and thickets, where they can raise 2 to 3 clutches of 3 to 5 white to purplish eggs with brownish-red spots between April and July. During the breeding season, they eat seeds and small insects. Outside the breeding season, they switch to seeds, grains and weeds.

The Yellowhammer can be found in semi-open landscapes such as heathland, forest edges and agricultural areas (fields) where there are enough hedges and grassy verges to breed in. He prefers to sing in trees and shrubs.

BibBeersel