Miliaria calandra - Corn Bunting
Feather characters. Barbules are generally short (0.75-1.15 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented or partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (38-42 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Some proximal nodes are very wide. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Prongs are absent. Occasionally minute prongs are found on distal end of barbules. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 18 cm. Weight 46.0 g (38.0-55.0) (Dunning, 1993). The only bunting in the region in which male and female are similar in plumage. Large, earth brown on upperparts with dark streaks, white on underparts with heavily streaked breast and flanks. Indistinct head pattern, with narrow moustachial stripe. No white in tail or wings. Often seen sitting on post, fences, and electrical wires. Regularly flies with dangling feet. In summer in pairs, but outside breeding season sometimes in large flocks, often with other species.
Voice. Call soft 'tip'. Song short and monotonous, accelerating towards the end and ending in trill.
Distribution. Rare, local and declining in north, common in south. Resident, but some migration takes place in autumn. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Open fields with hedges, arable fields, meadows, dry plains with scattered bushes, etc.
Food. Mainly seeds, taken on the ground, but also insects.