Yellowhammer
VU

Yellowhammer

Emberiza citrinella

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowhammer

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Yellowhammer has experienced severe population declines across Europe, with numbers falling by over 50% since the 1980s due to agricultural intensification. Modern farming practices have eliminated the mixed farmland mosaic of hedgerows, stubble fields, and weedy margins that this species requires for nesting and foraging. The widespread use of herbicides has reduced seed availability during critical winter months, while earlier crop harvesting removes essential food sources before the species completes its extended breeding season.

Threat summary

Habitat

Yellowhammers inhabit open countryside with mixed farmland, particularly areas with hedgerows, scrubland, and field margins. They prefer landscapes that combine arable fields with rough grassland, scattered bushes, and woodland edges, requiring both dense cover for nesting and open areas for foraging.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Emberizidae

Little BuntingVU

Little Bunting

Emberiza pusilla

Unknown
Ortolan BuntingCR

Ortolan Bunting

Emberiza hortulana

Unknown
Reed BuntingEN

Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

Unknown
Rustic BuntingVU

Rustic Bunting

Emberiza rustica

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Yellowhammer classified as Vulnerable?
Yellowhammer is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Yellowhammer has experienced severe population declines across Europe, with numbers falling by over 50% since the 1980s due to agricultural intensification. Modern farming practices have eliminated the mixed farmland mosaic of hedgerows, stubble fields, and weedy margins that this species requires for nesting and foraging. The widespread use of herbicides has reduced seed availability during critical winter months, while earlier crop harvesting removes essential food sources before the species completes its extended breeding season.
Where does Yellowhammer live?
Yellowhammer occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Yellowhammer?
The main threats to Yellowhammer are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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