Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinella

The yellowhammer is a passerine bird in the bunting family that is native to Eurasia and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia. Most European birds remain in the breeding range year-round, but the eastern subspecies is partially migratory, with much of the population wintering further south. The male yellowhammer has a bright yellow head, streaked brown back, chestnut rump, and yellow under parts. Other plumages are duller versions of the same pattern. The yellowhammer is common in open areas with some shrubs or trees, and forms small flocks in winter. Its song has a rhythm like "A little bit of bread and no cheese". The song is very similar to that of its closest relative, the pine bunting, with which it interbreeds. Source
Where it is now
In the last 8 weeks this bird was recorded 60,303 times across 48 areas (each area is a 5 degree square).
See the Yellowhammer on the live map
Movement and weather
Each season it is first heard regularly where daytime highs are around 11°C (typically 5 to 15°C, from 19 areas). That range is wide, so temperature alone does not explain when it turns up.
Arrival dates
The week it was first heard regularly in each region, after at least six weeks away. Dates differ from south to north, so a region has a range.
| Region | First arrival | Last arrival | Typical peak | Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 29 December 2025 | 21 September 2026 | 1 June 2026 | 15 |
| Oceania | 18 May 2026 | 24 August 2026 | 24 August 2026 | 3 |
| Africa | 8 June 2026 | 8 June 2026 | 15 June 2026 | 1 |
Figures are effort corrected and come from automatic sound identification, which makes mistakes. How this is measured and how it compares with human observers.