Corn Bunting
Scientific Name: Emebriza calandraMaltese Name: Durrajsa
Family: Buntings (Emberizidae)
Occurence: Regular Autumn Migrant, Scarce Resident
Breeds in Malta: Yes
Breeding Frequency: Scarce
Overview:
This nondescript farmland bird is the largest of the buntings and is most usually seen perched on a wire or post. It is a stout, dumpy bird brown which flies off with a fluttering flight and with its legs characteristically 'dangling'. Often seen perched prominently on a hedge, post or wire, singing its jangling song. Its natural food consists of insects when feeding young, and otherwise seeds.Males defend territories in the breeding season and often are polygynous (have more than one mate), with up to three females per breeding male. Males play only a small role in parental care; they are not involved in nest building or incubation, and only feed the chicks when they are over half grown. The nest is normally built in a low bush and the female lays from 4 - 6 eggs.
Status and Distribution:
The Corn Bunting was a very common breeder in older times but has declined drastically over the last ten years and has now become quite scarce in Malta. It is now confined to a few undisturbed areas with suitable garigue and steppe habitat. Nowadays' extinsive agriculture resulted in the Corn Bunting not breeding in agricultural habitat anymore, a habitat it used to prefer in the past.
When to See:
All Year Round, Migrants seen in Autumn, sometimes in flocks
Where to See:
Breeds in garigue and steppe habitat. Best places to see are Ta' Cenc in Gozo and Majjistral Natural Park in Malta.
Photographs:
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Corn Bunting, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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| Nest of Corn Bunting with 4 eggs, Ghadira Nature Reserve, May 1981 | Nest of Corn Bunting with 4 pulli, Ghadira Nature Reserve, June 1983 |
Listen to Corn Bunting:
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