1. Yellowhammer – Emberiza citrinella
Yellowhammer is a small bird with a body length of 15-17 cm and a weight of 20-25 g. in an adult, plumage of the upper body is olive-green, the bottom of the body is yellow, there is a characteristic dark gray "collar" on the chest. The yellowhammer has a short, rounded beak and plump plumage.
The yellowhammer is common in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
The yellowhammer is a sedentary bird. It lives in forests, parks, gardens and fields. The yellowhammer nests on the ground, in a small pit covered with grass. The nest is built of grass, leaves and feathers. There are 4-6 eggs in the laying of the yellowhammer. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 12-14 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
The yellowhammer feeds on grass seeds, as well as insects and their larvae. The yellowhammer collects seeds from the ground, as well as from spikes and pods.
The yellowhammer is a fairly common species and is not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko