YELLOWHAMMER

Emberiza citronella

"When shall I see the white thorn leaves again
And yellowhammers gath'ring the dry bents
By the dyke side on stilly moor or fen
Feathered wi' love and nature's good intents
Rude is the nest this Architect invents
Rural the place wi' cart ruts by dyke side
Dead grass, horse hair and downy headed bents
Tied to dead thistles she doth well provide
Close to a hill o' ants where cowslips bloom
And shed o'er meadows far their sweet perfume
In early Spring when winds blow chilly cold
The yellowhammer trailing grass will come
To fix a place and choose an early home
With yellow breast and head of solid gold."
John Clare

More yellowhammer facts:
Carl Czerny claimed that Beethoven admitted he got the idea for the first four notes of his 5th symphony from the yellowhammer's call.
The Yellowhammer was “Bird of the Year” in Germany in 1999.

There. Wasn't it worth reading this far?