Emberiza calandra
Corn bunting / Kornsparv

33c096    2022-03-06    Hula Valley, Israel

The Corn bunting is Europe's largest field sparrow and also differs somewhat in other ways from its relatives. The zigzag-cut bill, which we see on this singing individual in the Hula Valley, is one example. In the middle of the 19th century, the Corn bunting was a very common bird in southern Sweden and occurred "in great numbers" in southern Sweden, up to Småland and on Öland and Gotland. Already at the turn of the last century, however, a clear decline was noted and at the end of the 20th century it was "most threatened" with only a dozen individuals in the country. In 2020, the number was estimated to have increased to 80 nesting birds, thanks to various action programs. (It is still common in some European countries, but it has declined notably in north-western Europe due to intensive agricultural practices that deprives it of its food supply of weed seeds and insects, the latter especially vital when feeding the young. It hgas decreased in 17 out of 33 countries, but increased in five countries. For example, it has recently become extinct in Wales and Ireland, where it was previously common.)

Kornsparven är Europas största fältsparv och skiljer sig dessutom en del från släktingarna. Den sicksack-skurna näbben, som vi ser på den här sjungande individien i Huladalen, är ett exempel. I mitten på 1800-talet var kornsparven en mycket vanlig fågel i södra Sverige och förekom "mycket talrikt" i södra Sverige, upp till Småland och på Öland och Gotland. Redan vid förra sekelskiftet noterades dock en tydlig nedgång och i slutet av 1900-talet var den "stark hotad" med endast ett tiotal individer i landet. År 2020 beräknades antalet ha ökat till 80 häckande fåglar, tack vare olika åtgärdsprogram.