Emberiza schoeniclus - Reed Bunting
Feather characters. Barbules are short (0.55-0.60 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Occasionally, very dark stippled pigment is found in distal internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (40-44 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Minute prongs may be present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 15 cm. Weight 18.3 g (15.0-22.0) (Dunning, 1993). Male in summer has head completely black with white moustachial stripe, white collar, and underparts and chestnut upperparts with black and buff lines. Wings similar in colour to upperparts, but with chestnut lesser coverts. Flanks and breast with black streaks. Rump greyish, tail dark with white on outer tail feathers. Female has dark crown and cheeks, white moustachial stripe and indistinct but broad supercilium. Juvenile resembles female. Constantly flicks and fans tail.
Voice. Calls thin 'seeeee', also 'tsik' and hoarse 'tee'. Song simple and short, 'tee tiu teek' and variations.
Distribution. Common, summer visitor in north, resident and migrant in centre and south of region. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Marshes and swamps with reed, sedges, tall grasses, and trees. On migration also in drier habitats.
Food. In summer seeds and insects, in winter mainly seeds. Feeds in low vegetation and on the ground.