Ochre-rumped Bunting

Overview

The ochre-rumped bunting, also known as the Japanese reed bunting, is a seed-eating bird in the family Emberizidae. It is found in Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, and is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• 15 cm in length, typically the richest-coloured of the reed buntings with the pinkest legs and bill in winter.
• Adult males have a dark back, chestnut upperparts, and are striped black and buff on the breast and sides.
• Females feature a buffy submoustachial and throat, black malar stripes, and a dark brown crown with pale streaking.
• Calls can be transcribed as 'sur-swee-ik' and 'tik'.

Habitat

The natural habitats are temperate grassland and swamps. Emberiza yessoensis is found in Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, with subspecies breeding in eastern Mongolia, northeast China, and Ussuriland.

Did you know?

The species epithet, yessoensis, describes the bird as being found on Yesso, which is now known as Hokkaido.