Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinella
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyEmberizidae (Old World Buntings)
- GenusEmberiza (Old World Buntings)
- SpeciesEmberiza citrinella (Yellowhammer)
The yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) is a passerine bird in the bunting family that is native to Eurasia and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia. Most European birds remain in the breeding range year-round, but the eastern subspecies is partially migratory, with much of the population wintering further south. The male yellowhammer has a bright yellow head, streaked brown back, chestnut rump, and yellow under parts. Other plumages are duller versions of the same pattern. The yellowhammer is common in open areas with some shrubs or trees, and forms small flocks in winter. Its song has a rhythm like "A little bit of bread and no cheese". Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Yellowhammer sighting in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, based on 63 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Miromiro
Petroica macrocephala
Grey Warbler
Gerygone igata
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
European Greenfinch
Chloris chloris
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Yellowhammer in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park?
About 33% of wildlife watchers report a Yellowhammer sighting in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, based on 63 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Yellowhammer in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Yellowhammer in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park in our monthly data.