Cape Bunting
Emberiza capensis
The Cape Bunting (Emberiza capensis) is a uncommon old world bunting found in 9 countries, weighing about 21 g. The Cape bunting is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae.
About the Cape Bunting
The Cape bunting is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Cape bunting is 16 cm long. The adult has a black crown, white supercilium and black-bordered white ear coverts. The upperparts are grey brown with some dark streaks, and the wing coverts are chestnut. The tail is darker chestnut, and the underparts are grey with a pale throat. The sexes are very similar, but females may have a buff tone to the white head markings. Young birds have duller chestnut wings, a less distinct head pattern, and heavier streaking extending on to the breast and flanks. The call is an ascending zzoo-zeh-zee-zee.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Cape Bunting can be seen all year round, with peak activity in September. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Cape Bunting?
- The Cape bunting is 16 cm long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Cape Bunting?
- The Cape Bunting is a small sized bird weighing about 21 g.
- Where can you see a Cape Bunting?
- The Cape Bunting occurs in 9 countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
- What birds look similar to a Cape Bunting?
- The Cape Bunting is most easily confused with the Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, the Little Bunting and the Black-faced Bunting.
- Is the Cape Bunting endangered?
- The Cape Bunting is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Cape Bunting for real
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