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British Birds - Buntings, Sparrows and Starlings
What is the name of this bird?

British Birds - Buntings, Sparrows and Starlings

The buntings of Europe, Asia and Africa are related to American sparrows. Most have simple, unmusical but distinctive songs. Starlings look black at a distance but when seen closer they are very glossy with a sheen of purples and greens. Test your knowledge in the following Natural History quiz on buntings, sparrows and starlings.

To see a larger image, click on the picture.
1 .
What is the name of this bird?
Photograph courtesy of Matthieu Gauvain
Snow Bunting
Corn Bunting
Dunnock
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
  • Group: Buntings and American Sparrows
  • Binomial: Miliaria calandra
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Emberizidae
  • Status: Resident Breeding Species
  • The song of the male is a repetitive metallic sound, usually likened to jangling keys.
  • Males play only a small role in parental care; they only feed the chicks when they are over half grown.
2 .
What is the name of this bird?
Photograph courtesy of http://www.fws.gov/
Reed Bunting
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Lapland Bunting
Dunnock
  • Group: Buntings and American Sparrows
  • Binomial: Calcarius lapponicus
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Emberizidae
  • Status: Winter Visitor
  • Spends most of its time on the ground and often seen in small flocks.
  • Wintering birds are mainly found along the east coast of the UK.
  • Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and North Norfolk coasts usually hold the most birds.
3 .
What is the name of this bird?
Photograph courtesy of http://www.fws.gov/
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Snow Bunting
  • Group: Buntings and American Sparrows
  • Binomial: Plectrophenax nivalis
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Emberizidae
  • Status: Winter Visitor
  • Globally breed around the arctic from Scandinavia to Alaska, Canada and Greenland and migrate south in winter.
  • During the last ice age, it was widespread throughout continental Europe.
4 .
What is the name of this bird?
Photograph courtesy of Smalljim
Dunnock
Snow Bunting
Lapland Bunting
Common Starling
  • Group: Accentors
  • Binomial: Prunella modularis
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Prunellidae
  • Status: Resident Breeding Species
  • Also known as Hedge Sparrow
  • Intricate light and dark brown markings
  • Adults have some grey on their heads but this is absent in young birds
  • Its movements are altogether more agitated than house sparrows
5 .
What is the name of this bird?
Photograph courtesy of Paul Lomax
Yellowhammer
Common Starling
Reed Bunting
Dunnock
  • Group: Starlings
  • Binomial: Sturnus vulgaris
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Sturnidae
  • Status: Resident Breeding Species And Winter Visitor
  • The base of their bills are blue for boys and pink for girls!
  • In the autumn massive flocks congregate in what are known as "murmurations"
6 .
What is the name of this bird?
Photograph courtesy of Emberiza Schoeniclus
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Reed Bunting
  • Group: Buntings and American Sparrows
  • Binomial: Emberiza schoeniclus
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Emberizidae
  • Status: Resident Breeding Species
  • Usually delivers its song from a perch at the top of a tree or bush.
  • The nest is a cup of grass and moss built on the ground.
  • Fine grasses and hair are used to line the cup.
7 .
What is the name of this bird?
Photograph courtesy of Paco Gomez
Lapland Bunting
Reed Bunting
Cirl Bunting
House Sparrow
  • Group: Buntings and American Sparrows
  • Binomial: Emberiza cirlus
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Emberizidae
  • Status: Resident Breeding Species
  • Best looked for in fields and hedges of south Devon.
  • Through the efforts of conservation organisations and landowners, the population increased from 118 pairs in 1989 to 700 pairs in 2003.
8 .
What is the name of this bird?
Photograph courtesy of Lip Kee
Cirl Bunting
Reed Bunting
House Sparrow
Yellowhammer
  • Group: Sparrows
  • Binomial: Passer domesticus
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Passeridae
  • Status: Resident Breeding Species
  • Once common throughout the UK but now in decline in many areas
  • The size of the black bib determines the bird's dominance within its community
  • It is normally found wherever there is a concentration of people
9 .
What is the name of this bird?
Photograph courtesy of http://www.laitche.com/
House Sparrow
Common Starling
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Lapland Bunting
  • Group: Sparrows
  • Binomial: Passer montanus
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Passeridae
  • Status: Resident Breeding Species
  • The UK population has suffered a severe decline, estimated at 93 per cent between 1970 and 2008.
  • Untidy nest usually built in a natural cavity.
  • Shy and not associated with man.
10 .
What is the name of this bird?
Photograph courtesy of Alan Vernon
Yellowhammer
Common Starling
Lapland Bunting
House Sparrow
  • Group: Buntings and American Sparrows
  • Binomial: Emberiza citrinella
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Emberizidae
  • Status: Resident Breeding Species
  • Common in all sorts of open areas.
  • Often seen perched on top of a hedge or bush, singing its high-pitched song.
  • The familiar song of the male is often described as 'A little bit of bread and no cheese'.
Author:  Sarah Garratty

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