Cape Bunting

Overview

The Cape bunting (Emberiza capensis) is a passerine bird belonging to the bunting family Emberizidae. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Plumage: Features a black crown, white supercilium, and black-bordered white ear coverts. Upperparts are grey brown with dark streaks, while wing coverts and the tail are chestnut. Underparts are grey with a pale throat.
• Size: Measures approximately 16 cm in length.
• Voice: The call is described as an ascending zzoo-zeh-zee-zee, and the song is a loud chirping chup chup chup chup chee chhep chu.
• Sexual Dimorphism: Sexes are very similar, though females may exhibit a buff tone to the white head markings.

Habitat

The Cape bunting occurs in southern Africa, ranging from south-western Angola and eastern Zambia to the Cape. It inhabits rocky slopes and dry weedy scrub, preferring mountains in the northern part of its range. Previously, it utilized stony arid areas with short grass, but much of this habitat has been lost to ploughing.

Diet

It feeds on the ground on seeds, insects, and spiders.

Did you know?

The north-eastern subspecies E. c. vincenti is so distinctively dark above and slaty below that it has sometimes been raised to species status as Vincent's bunting, Emberiza vincenti.