Tibetan Bunting
Emberiza koslowi
Handsome thickset bunting restricted to a small part of the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau where it inhabits scrubby slopes above the timberline. Unmistakable in its range; no other bunting in the area combines its size, brick-orange back, and gray belly. Male has a striking black-and-white head pattern while female is gray-headed with weak streaking. Song is an unmusical and unremarkable series of high, sharp “pi-pi-pipipew” notes.
Identification
The crown is black and there are white stripes at the head. The back is chestnut coloured.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Emberiza koslowi
- Authority
- Bianchi, 1904
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Emberizidae
- Genus
- Emberiza
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The domed nest structure of this species appears to be unique amongst the Emberizinae buntings which have open nest structures. Female lays 3 or 4 eggs.<p>They eat grains in winter and insects, like butterflies, grasshoppers and beetles, in summer.<p>Main predators of Tibetan bunting are birds of prey like falcons and owls and mammals like foxes, weasels and badgers.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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