yellowhammer

[ yel-oh-ham-er ]

noun

1. a common European bunting, Emberiza citrinella, the male of which is marked with bright yellow.
2. Chiefly Southern U.S. a flicker, Colaptes auratus, having yellow wing and tail linings.

yellowhammer

/ ˈjɛləʊˌhæmə /

noun

1. a European bunting, Emberiza citrinella, having a yellowish head and body and brown streaked wings and tail
2. the yellow-shafted flicker, an American woodpecker See flicker 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of yellowhammer¹

1550–60; earlier also yelamber, yelambre, probably continuing Old English *geolu-amore, equivalent to geolu yellow + amore presumably, the bunting (cognate with Old Saxon amer, Old High German amaro; emberizine ); forms with -h- perhaps reflect blending with another etymon, later conformed to hammer (compare dial. yellowham )

Word History and Origins

Origin of yellowhammer¹

C16: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Evidence suggests songbirds can also learn variations in songs from one another and that these changes last across generations: One 2016 study found variations in yellowhammer bird songs were preserved for up to 100 years.

From Salon

"He knew the hardship of farmers in the 1920s and 30s but he knew it was also incredibly beautiful; there was an amazing wild profusion of yellowhammers, nightingales, linnets, that are a rare sight today."

From BBC

On a recent visit, half a dozen yellowhammers busied themselves atop a high bush.

From New York Times

At last he saw the first of the dawn, like light faintly perceived round a corner at the far end of an unknown burrow; and in the same moment a yellowhammer sang.

From Literature

He was speaking quietly, because he'd just heard the song of a yellowhammer bird that was hiding in a nearby patch of gorse -- a few short notes followed by a longer one.

From Golf Digest