Wildlife

Yellowhammer: Voice of the Countryside Under Threat

The yellowhammer has declined by 54 percent since 1970 and is now red-listed as a bird of conservation concern.

Key Facts

Yellowhammers declined 54 percent in the UK between 1970 and 2019
Males sing a famous song described as a little bit of bread and no cheese
They rely on winter stubble fields for food during the coldest months
Nests are built on or near the ground making them vulnerable to agricultural machinery
Yellowhammers feed their chicks on insects during summer then switch to seeds in winter

Welfare Considerations

Yellowhammers face severe welfare impacts from intensified farming that removes winter stubble, eliminates weedy field margins, and increases pesticide use reducing insect prey. Birds nesting in low vegetation are frequently disturbed by farm operations. Cold winters with snow cover can cause starvation when seed resources are depleted.

What You Can Do

Support farmers implementing overwinter stubble retention under agri-environment schemes
Plant native hedgerows and rough grassland edges on farmland
Report instances of burning stubble before January when birds are still feeding
Donate to BTO and RSPB farmland bird recovery programmes
Campaign for stronger legal protection and funding for farmland bird habitats