Reed Bunting
| Irish Name: | Gealóg ghiolcaí |
| Scientific name: | Emberiza schoeniclus |
| Bird Family: | Buntings |
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Conservation status
Conservation status
Status
Widespread resident of wetlands throughout Ireland.
Identification
Typical bunting in size and shape, with chunky bill and long tail. Adult summer males have a black neck and throat, with a prominent white collar on the neck and a small white stripe from the bill to the neck. The underparts are off-white with some faint black streaking on the flanks. The back and wings are rather cryptically streaked black and brown. In adult winter males much of the white collar and black throat is moulted to a pale brown. The head is dark brown with a small white eyering. Adult summer female Reed Buntings appear much like winter males, but have extensive black streaking on the underparts and lack the white collar. Lacks the white eyering. Adult winter females/first-winters have a dark brown crown, broad buffy supercilium and pale brown stripe from the bill to the neck. Otherwise as for adult summer female.
Voice
Most frequently heard call is a short "ziu". The song is one of the distinctive sounds of spring and summer wetlands - a short three part phrase: "si zu zizi".
Diet
Feeds on various seeds and grains, as well as insects during the breeding season.
Breeding
A common breeding bird in wetlands with some reedbed areas or in boglands and less frequently in young conifer plantations.
Wintering
Largely resident, though may gather in small flocks at favoured sites, such as winter stubble fields.
Monitored by
Widespread in Ireland, breeding in reed beds of lakes and rivers.
Often seen feeding in stubble fields and farmland with other buntings and finches during Winter.
