Buntings · Perching birds
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Copied!
Emberiza aureola
Copied!
How to recognize it
-
14–16 cm, larger and stockier than many buntings
-
Male: yellow throat, breast and belly; black head in summer
-
Brown, mottled back, wings and tail; female much duller
-
Soft call "zick", song of clear whistled phrases
About the species
Yellow on the throat and underparts gives the Yellow-breasted Bunting its name, while the back and wings stay more muted. In summer the male’s head turns almost black, which makes the brighter body color look sharper.
Its call is a soft "zick," and the song is a clear series of short, ringing notes. It keeps low, often moving through wet grass and scrub, and it nests on the ground. Young are fed insects; adults mostly take seeds.
It breeds in open, damp places such as river valleys, meadow edges, marshes, and lakeside hollows with scattered bushes. It spends the winter in southern China and Southeast Asia, and it also gathers in cultivated fields and rice paddies.
Did you know?
-
Top prize for China's bird trappers
On the southern coast of China, massive illegal trapping of migratory birds targets the Yellow-breasted Bunting as its main species.
Where to find
-
Along reedy pond edges and canal banks — especially where a male sings from the top of a reed.
-
On damp meadow strips and floodplain lawns with scattered shrubs — watch for short ground hops while feeding on seeds.
-
At marshy margins and wet vacant lots — it slips low between grass and scrub, then gives a thin call from cover.
-
On overgrown field edges with tall grass — most often noticed by its clear, metallic contact call rather than a long look.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Emberiza aureola Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Yellow-breasted bunting Encyclopedia article