Pine Bunting
NamePine Bunting
Common NamePine Bunting
Scientific NameEmberiza leucocephalos
FamilyEmberizidae
Wingspan (cm)28
Length (cm)16.5
Weight (g)25
Plumage DetailsMales have a striking white crown and supercilium, chestnut ear coverts, and a chestnut throat band. The upperparts are streaked brown, and the underparts are whitish with rufous flanks. Females and immatures are duller, with a buffy-white head pattern and more streaking, resembling a female Yellowhammer but with a paler head.
Vocalization / CallThe song is a clear, ringing series of notes, often described as 'tsip-tsip-tsip-tsee-tsee-tsee'. The call is a sharp 'zit' or 'tsip', similar to a Yellowhammer but often harsher.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across the eastern Palearctic from eastern European Russia through Siberia to Mongolia and northern China. Winters in Central Asia, northern India, and occasionally western Europe.
Identifying Featureswhite crown (male), chestnut ear coverts (male), streaked brown upperparts, whitish underparts with rufous flanks, distinctive head pattern
Description
This medium-sized bunting is characterized by its distinctive head pattern, featuring a white crown and cheeks contrasting with chestnut ear coverts in males. It typically forages on the ground for seeds and insects, often found in open woodlands and scrub. They are generally shy birds, often seen in small flocks during winter.
