Emberiza schoeniclus
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Mass
~20 g
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Omnivore
How to recognize it
Reed Bunting has a straightforward, easy-to-remember look, with the male’s black head standing out against an otherwise modest plumage. Females and young individuals are much quieter in appearance, so along the bank it can slip by unless you look twice.
Its call is soft, while the song is fuller and repeated. On the ground it moves in quick hops, and it can balance confidently on very thin reeds and twigs.
It favors edges of ponds, rivers, lakes, marshes, and wet meadows. It feeds mainly on seeds, adding insects in summer; most move south in winter, though in milder areas some stay put.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
Reed Bunting has a straightforward, easy-to-remember look, with the male’s black head standing out against an otherwise modest plumage. Females and young individuals are much quieter in appearance, so along the bank it can slip by unless you look twice.
Its call is soft, while the song is fuller and repeated. On the ground it moves in quick hops, and it can balance confidently on very thin reeds and twigs.
It favors edges of ponds, rivers, lakes, marshes, and wet meadows. It feeds mainly on seeds, adding insects in summer; most move south in winter, though in milder areas some stay put.
