THE REED BUNTING. 



THE REED BUNTING. 



THE male Reed Bunting, 

 or Reed Sparrow as it 

 is frequently called, can 

 hardly be mistaken for 

 any other British bird 

 on account of his con- 

 spicuous velvety black 

 head and white collar 

 running from the base 

 of the bill down the 

 sides of the neck some distance, 

 and thence right round to the 

 back of the head. His back is brownish- 

 black, the feathers being broadly mar- 

 gined with reddish - brown and tawny 

 grey ; breast and under parts white, 

 tinged and streaked with brown towards 

 the sides. He is rather longer than the 

 Common Sparrow, and shows a distinct 

 white streak down either side of his tail 

 when flying away from the observer. 



His mate is smaller and has a brown 

 instead of a black head. 



