Chestnut bunting

Emberiza rutila

Photo by Tim Edelsten (Birds Korea)

Common name:

chestnut bunting (en); escrevedeira-ferrugínea (pt); bruant roux (fr); semillerito castaño (es); rötelammer (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Emberizidae

Range:

The chestnut bunting is found in eastern Asia, breeding in Siberia, northern Mongolia and north-eastern China, and migrating south to winter in in southern China, Indochina and Burma.

Size:

These birds are 14-15 cm long and have a wingspan of 21-23 cm. They weigh 15-19 g.

Habitat:

They breed in temperate and boreal broad-leaved forests dominated by larch, alder and birch, apparently favouring are of open forest with rich ground-cover of herbaceous plants, and dense grass. During migration and winter they use a wide range of habitats including mountain slopes and lake shores, agricultural fields,gardens near villages, rice stubbles, scrublands and forest clearings.

Diet:

Chestnut buntings feed mostly on seeds, but will also hunt insects during the breeding season.

Breeding:

These birds breed on the ground, in an open cup made of twigs, rootlets and other plant materials. there the female lays 3-5 eggs which are incubated for 10-14 days. The chicks are reared by both parents and fledge 10-15 after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has a large breeding range and is described as locally fairly common or common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.