Sparrows

Common Reed Bunting

Yellowhammer

Ortolan Bunting

Reed bunting

House Sparrow

The decline of the Ortolan Bunting during the last 30 years is depressing. Now only a handful of ortolans remain in all of southern Sweden. In the north they still have relatively good breeding numbers but then on new clear-cuts and not in the agricultural landscape. This droprig recording was done this morning in one of the last strongholds in Uppland where the same male has returned for its sixth year. Ulva, Upppland. May 13, 2023.

Zoom F3 and 2 x Clippy EM272 as tree-ears

The last of the Ortolan Buntings

A pair of Lapland Longspurs flew in tandem about 50 m above the mountain heath for about one hour at dawn. Mostly having their peculiar contact calls but now and then the male also sang. Not sure what kind of breeding behaviour this was. Flatruet, June 12, 2023.

Lapland Longspur

Still early spring and the yellowhammer does not really sing but some spring feelings can be felt in this subsong. 
Säva, Uppland. March 6, 2024.

Learning how to sing

Corn Bunting is a very common bird on the continent but a very rare breeding bird in Sweden. Its numbers have gone up during the last 10 years or so and it breeds in Scania, Halland and Öland. Photo: Hans Norelius

Peppinge, Scania. May 12, 2025
Mixpre 3ii + Wildtronics stereoparabolic dish

A rare sparrow with a simple song

Field sound recordist and archivist of vanishing sounds in natural Iandscapes. Highly commended in the Sound of the Year Awards 2024 - Best Natural Sound.

Sparrows

Bo Söderström