Yellow-browed Bunting

Taxobox
name = Yellow-Browed Bunting
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
status_ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=53523|title=Emberiza chrysophrys|downloaded=12 May 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Emberizidae
genus = "Emberiza"
species = "E. chrysophrys"
binomial = "Emberiza chrysophrys"
binomial_authority = Pallas, 1776The Yellow-Browed Bunting, "Emberiza chrysophrys", is a passerine bird in the bunting family ("Emberizidae"), a group now separated by most modern taxonomists from the finches ("Fringillidae").

It breeds in eastern Siberia, and is migratory, wintering in central and southern China. It is a very rare wanderer to western Europe.

The Yellow-Browed Bunting breeds in the taiga zone, and lays four eggs in an arboreal nest. In the wild, the adults' diet consists of seeds, but they feed insects to nestlings.

This bird is smaller than a Reed Bunting, but relatively large-headed. The upper parts are brown and heavily streaked, and the underparts are white with an orange hue on the flanks and some fine dark streaks. Their stout beaks are pink.

The breeding male has a black head with white crown and moustachial stripes and throat. There is a bright yellow eyebrow stripe. Females and young birds have a weaker head pattern, with brown instead of black, and can be confused with Little Bunting; however, there is always some yellow in the eyebrow, as well as at least a hint of a white stripe on the crown.

References