Rufous-backed Bunting

Emberiza jankowskii

A rare and declining medium-sized bunting that is found only in shrubby, sandy areas between steppelands and deciduous woodlands. Both sexes have a simple yet elegant head pattern that somewhat resembles that of Meadow Bunting, but Rufous-backed Bunting is considerably paler with a gray instead of dark brown-black cheek patch. Male is warm rufous-brown above and has a unique dark patch on the belly. Females are similarly colored, but are overall a colder brown and have a spotty necklace across the breast instead of a belly patch.

Identification

A rare and declining medium-sized bunting that is found only in shrubby, sandy areas between steppelands and deciduous woodlands. Both sexes have a simple yet elegant head pattern that somewhat resembles that of Meadow Bunting, but Rufous-backed Bunting is considerably paler with a gray instead of dark brown-black cheek patch. Male is warm rufous-brown above and has a unique dark patch on the belly. Females are similarly colored, but are overall a colder brown and have a spotty necklace across the breast instead of a belly patch.

Taxonomy

Genus: Emberiza; Family: Emberizidae; Order: Passeriformes.

Scientific name
Emberiza jankowskii
Authority
Taczanowski, 1888
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Emberizidae
Genus
Emberiza

Range and habitat

Breeding range: PAL : temperate ne Palearctic (rare) shrubby grassland: far e Mongolia, e Inner Mongolia and w Jilin (ne China), formerly also Heilongjiang and far se Russia. Non-breeding range: to Beijing and Liaoning, at least formerly far n Korean Pen..

Breeding range
PAL : temperate ne Palearctic (rare) shrubby grassland: far e Mongolia, e Inner Mongolia and w Jilin (ne China), formerly also Heilongjiang and far se Russia
Non-breeding range
to Beijing and Liaoning, at least formerly far n Korean Pen.
Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend: declining.

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

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