Red-headed Bunting

Overview

The red-headed bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae that breeds across central Asia and is migratory, wintering in India and Bangladesh. Although it appears on the IUCN Red List as Least Concern, it is a vagrant in western Europe where its presence is often confused with escaped individuals.

Identification

• A 17 cm long bird with a long tail, larger than the reed bunting.
• Breeding males feature bright yellow underparts, green upperparts, and a brownish-red face and breast.
• Females are a washed-out version of the male with paler underparts, a grey-brown back, and a greyish head.
• The song, delivered from a high perch, is described as a jerky sweet-sweet-churri-churri-churri.

Habitat

This species breeds in open scrubby areas, including agricultural land, across countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, and China. It is migratory, moving to India and Bangladesh to winter.

Diet

The natural food of the red-headed bunting consists of seeds. When feeding young, the bird consumes insects.

Did you know?

Reports of this species in Britain have declined dramatically in recent years, a trend coinciding with the decline in some bunting species due to the impact of illegal trade.