Yellowhammer

Yellowhammer is a familiar presence in open country with a few trees or shrubs. In the male, the bright yellow head and warm chestnut tones stand out most, while females and young look quieter and duller.

The male sings from the top of a tree or bush, often early in the morning, and the simple, steady song is easy to remember once you’ve heard it. Outside the breeding season, these finches often gather in small flocks and feed on the ground.

Look for it along hedges, woodland edges, rough grassland, fields, and other dry open places with a few trees or shrubs. It feeds mainly on seeds, adds invertebrates in the breeding season, and most European populations stay through winter, while some move south.