Rock Bunting
Emberiza cia
Large, distinctive bunting. Males have a boldly black-striped gray head and breast, chestnut underparts, and streaked upperparts. Females and juveniles similar to males, just more subdued. Breeds on rocky slopes just above the treeline, preferring bushy areas with scattered trees. Feeds on seeds and invertebrates. Unobtrusive, although not particularly shy. Clear, high-pitched song draws attention to its presence.
Identification
This bird is 16 cm in length. The breeding male has chestnut upperparts, unmarked deep buff underparts, and a pale grey head marked with black striping.<p>The female rock bunting is a washed-out version of the male, with paler underparts, a grey-brown back and a less contrasted head. The juvenile is similar to the female, but with a streaked head.<p>There are four races differing mainly in the plumage shades, although the subspecies which breeds in Europe, Africa and western Turkey is the only one to show white wing bars.
Taxonomy
Genus: Emberiza; Family: Emberizidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Emberiza cia
- Authority
- Linnaeus, 1766
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Emberizidae
- Genus
- Emberiza
Range and habitat
The rock bunting breeds in open dry rocky mountainous areas. It breeds in northwest Africa, southern Europe east to central Asia, and the Himalayas. It also breeds locally in central Europe. It is partially migratory, with northern populations wintering further south, mainly within the breeding range of the resident southern populations. It is a rare wanderer to western Europe.
- Breeding range
- PAL : subtropical to temperate montane w, c Palearctic rocky, bushy slopes: Iberian Pen. and c France through s Germany, Slovakia, sw Russia through n Iran and s Turkmenistan to e Kazakhstan, nw, w Xinjiang (nw China) and e to far w Mongolia; in s from Morocco to Tunisia (nw, nc Africa), Mediterranean to Israel, s Iran, Afghanistan and w, c Himalayas
- Non-breeding range
- some move to cultivation at lower elevations
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: rising.
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Helmeted Manakin
Chiroxiphia galeata
Males are striking with a mostly glossy black body, but with a red forehead, crest, and back. Females are uniformly olive-green and also crested. Locally common in gallery forests embedded in savannas where it often accompanies mixed-species flocks. The song is a trilling series of alternately soft and loud whistles.
Gray-sided Scimitar-Babbler
Erythrogenys swinhoei
A large scimitar-babbler found in the upper regions of hilly and montane forest. Upper body is uniformly warm orange-brown, and underparts are white with a light spattering of black streaks and spots on the throat and chest. Though shy and skulky, this species often gives away its position in thick scrub with a soft, hooting, two-note call.
Atlas Flycatcher
Ficedula speculigera
Very similar and closely related to European Pied Flycatcher. Males have mixed features of Collared and European Pied Flycatchers, but note very large white wing patch and big white forehead. Also note the absence of a white collar and pale rump patch on Atlas Flycatcher. Females are very difficult to distinguish, but note gray upperparts with paler rump and big white primary base patch. Song is a cheery up-and-down series, quite similar to that of European Pied. Calls subtly different from European Pied Flycatcher with a slightly more metallic "whit" and a slower tempo. Inhabits a variety of wooded habitats in the Atlas Mountains.
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