Corn Bunting
Miliaria calandra
Length 18cm

A large but rather nondescript bunting with streaked, brown plumage and large but stubby bill. Best identified by its distinctive, jingling song, often likened to jangling keys and sung from fencepost or overhead wire. Also characteristically dangles legs in flight. Widespread but distinctly local, being found almost exclusively in areas of arable farmland. Consequently absent from large parts of W and N Britain and very scarce in Ireland. Forms often sizeable flocks in winter, sometimes mixing with other buntings and finches.